BIH Delegation Talks with EC President and Prime Ministers of Croatia and Netherlands

The Council of Ministers of BIH Delegation, led by Chairwoman Borjana Krišto held in Sarajevo a meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula fon der Leyen and Prime Ministers of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković and of Kingdom of Netherlands Mark Rutte, discussing European integrations of BIH. The meeting was attended by Deputies Chairman, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac and Defence Minister Zukan Helez, including Foreign Minister Elvedin Konaković. 

Chairwoman Krišto said at a joint press conference with Fon der Leyen and Prime Ministers Plenković and Rutte she is convinced that BIH will get, by March this year and the Council of Europe meeting, the exact date of opening of negotiations for the EU membership.

The Chairwoman said that representatives of the Council of Ministers of BIH presented their common position that they would do everything standing ahead of BIH for fulfilment of tasks relevant for the European future of the country.

She stressed that BIH works intensively on amendment of the Election Law and that positions are getting harmonised both within work groups and at the political leaders level.

“We have to do absolutely everything to avoid interventions and imposition of solutions by the international community, which might harm certain relations within the coalition and in functioning of BIH Institutions”, Chairwoman Krišto added.

President of the European Commission Fon der Leyen stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina has its future in the European Union as unique and independent state, stressing that certain progress is notable as is the real commitment of BIH on its road to the EU membership by adoption of relevant pieces of legislation.

Fon der Leyen reminded that the European Commission will release a new progress report of BIH by March, based on which European leaders will discuss next steps.

She explained that the Western Balkans Growth Plan represents an offer by the EU to integrate BIH into the joint market before membership in the Union and invest EUR one billion, to be preceded by certain economic reforms.

Prime Minister of Croatia Plenković stated that Croatia is the strongest, firmest and major supporter and friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina for years when it comes to speeding-up its membership in the European Union.

He noted that this visit serves as an incentive to the Council of Ministers of BIH primarily, and to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, as well, to take certain laws in next sessions, to take certain reform efforts in order to provide the European Commission and President Leyen arguments to create preconditions in its report to be presented on March 21 and 22, and reach consensus among 27 member states on opening of negotiations with BIH.

He stressed that major changes happened over the last two years when it comes to the enlargement policy, including the changed context, and negotiations methodology give a chance to Bosnia and Herzegovina to take pace with other SEE countries. (end)

Video recording of the press conference is available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ychAtGca2-E

Ling to Photo:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720314265586/with/53482369285