Jean-Lin Lacapel, a prominent French politician, says the Dayton Peace Agreement has not fulfilled its goals — and that Serbs in both Republika Srpska and Serbia should be cautious about EU integration if they wish to preserve their national identity. He made the remarks ahead of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the accord, in an exclusive interview for the political magazine Pečat in Paris.
Lacapel said the basic principles of Dayton — non-interference, equality of the peoples, and peaceful dispute resolution — were not upheld. He pointed to what he sees as the unequal position of Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina and argued that the removal of President Milorad Dodik from office was unjustified.
He strongly criticized Christian Schmidt, whom he described as an unofficial and illegitimate High Representative, stating that Schmidt’s decisions undermine the Constitution of BiH. Lacapel referred specifically to Schmidt’s attempts to reassign public assets of Republika Srpska — such as natural resources, infrastructure, schools, and hospitals — to the state level, calling it an attack on Srpska’s sovereignty.
Regarding EU membership for BiH, Lacapel said he firmly opposes EU enlargement, arguing that the Union already struggles to function with 27 members. He warned that including the Western Balkans or Ukraine would “be catastrophic.” He cited what he sees as EU interference in internal affairs of both member and non-member states, including pressure on Serbia over relations with Russia and demands regarding recognition of Kosovo.
He accused the EU of failing to promote peace in Ukraine and instead fuelling the conflict, adding that the structure of the Union threatens the sovereignty, history, and identity of its member states. Under such circumstances, he said, Republika Srpska could not safeguard its interests within the EU.
Lacapel also criticized the legal proceedings against Milorad Dodik, arguing that Dodik was prosecuted solely for not implementing Schmidt’s decisions, which Lacapel described as unconstitutional and illegitimate.
He congratulated Siniša Karan on his election victory, calling it a triumph of democracy and a reflection of strong support from the Serb people.
Lacapel emphasized that a successful Dayton Agreement requires full respect for its founding principles, warning that ongoing actions by Schmidt undermine those principles and risk stripping Republika Srpska of its constitutional powers.
He said the EU pushes countries toward political uniformity, suppressing cultural and historical differences, while the political group of European Patriots — led by Jordan Bardella — advocates a Europe of sovereign nations cooperating on major strategic projects.
Lacapel also referenced EU pressure campaigns on Serbia, especially regarding its ties with Russia, calling such demands hypocritical given EU corruption scandals. He urged Serbs to preserve their independence and resist political coercion.
He concluded by expressing strong support for the Serbian community in France — numbering around 200,000 — and reaffirmed his belief in protecting national sovereignty across Europe.
Source: RTRS
