Lawrence Butler and Martin Rey told the press in Sarajevo the government in Banja Luka persistently obstructed the implementation of reforms in 11 areas key for adjustment to European standards. They highlighted the delayed application of Bologna process standards and problems in the reform of the defence and tax systems.
Butler said the situation must be changed urgently because the conduct of the Bosnian Serb government might bring into question Bosnia's negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.
The government led by Pero Bukejlovic of the Serb Democratic Party is also exposed to strong internal pressure because its coalition partner, Mladen Ivanic's Party of Democratic Progress, last week decided to discontinue cooperation and join the opposition.