A really bad idea

I imagine in Brussels they are congratulating themselves today for Republika Srpska (RS) President Dodik agreeing to postpone the referendum he was threatening, in exchange for “structured talks” with the European Union on the future of judicial institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Why is this a bad idea?  Let me count the ways:

• Postponement leaves the threat of the referendum hanging, providing continued leverage to Dodik from a proposition that clearly violates letter and spirit of the Dayton agreements.
• Agreeing to discuss Bosnia’s judicial system with the RS undermines the authority of the prosecutors and judges at what Bosnians call the “state” level (national to Americans, but that means something else in Bosnia).
• Using the enlargement commissioner of the EU to conduct these talks could open the door to de facto negotiations on implementation of the EU’s acquis communitaire with the RS.

To make matters worse, the EU’s top foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, is reported to have said, “We consider that any legitimate issues require an adequate response.”  And to seal the EU’s groveling, she added, “We welcome your leadership, Mister President.”

Why wasn’t Dodik told to go discuss the issues he is raising with the Bosnian government in Sarajevo?  Why wasn’t any EU discussion of judicial reform undertaken a the state level?  Of course, that would have required that Dodik also be told to get on with government formation (it has been 7 months since elections under a caretaker government).  EU use of its leverage to that end would have been a very good idea.  Allowing Brussels to become an instrument of Dodik’s campaign to enhance the autonomy of RS and demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the Sarajevo government is a really bad idea.