Chairwoman Krišto at Leaders' Panel: EU Enlargement to Countries of Region Key to Stability and Prosperity

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Borjana Krišto said that the EU enlargement to countries of our region is key for maintenance of a long-term peace, stability and prosperity, both in the region and throughout the EU. 

In her address to the Leaders’ Panel “Western Balkans: Enlargement” within the Beld Strategic Forum, Chairwoman Krišto added that it is a prerequisite for economic growth and regional linking.

She assessed that fora at the highest level, as this is, are the right opportunity for exchange and approximation of positions and joint solution-finding to current challenges, in order to arrive to the common aim, membership of all counties of the region in the EU.

Krišto thanked to member-countries of the European Union, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and host of the Bled Strategic Forum Robert Golob, President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković, President of the European Council Charles Michell, as well as to EU Institutions supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in gaining the candidate status, including support they have extended to Bosnia and Herzegovina and all counties of the region in the enlargement and accession processes.

We are aware that the road to our full membership is not easy and that we have to show decisiveness and embrace serious reforms in all segments of society, Chairwoman Krišto said, adding that the incumbent Council of Ministers of BIH has made a considerable breakthrough in view of harmonisation with the EU acquis, in addition to harmonising its foreign policy in full with the joint foreign and security policy of the EU.

She emphasised the importance of a quick opening of the negotiating process of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the EU for security, stability and building of democracy and rule of law, for BIH, as for all countries of the region.

She assessed as inevitable for the EU to come forward more decisively about its enlargement process and membership of countries of the region in the EU, adding that she expects this joint panel to be a breakthrough in that direction.

Chairwoman Krišto emphasised that Bosnia and Herzegovina is ahead of a full political and institutional consensus when in question the European road of the state. She reminded at a complexity of the constitutional structure of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but underlined that notwithstanding all complexity of political situation and authority effectiveness, there is a general consensus in Bosnia and Herzegovina as to the European integrations.

She said that the incumbent Council of Ministers of BIH made a significant breakthrough, harmonising a fair portion of its legislation with the EU’s, and fully harmonising its foreign and security policy with that of the European Union.

Chairwoman Krišto said Bosnia and Herzegovina expects soon opening of the European Union accession negotiations, and assessed that the EU should define its position clearly concerning membership in the European family of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as of all countries of the region.(end)