Najave
Chairwoman Krišto with EC President Von der Leyen: Future of BIH is in EU
11/01/2023
During a tête-à-tête meeting with President Von der Leyen, Chairwoman Krišto expressed her firm confidence that opening of negotiating process by the end of this year might have the same positive effect to BIH as getting the candidate status last year had.
Chairwoman Krišto said that visit by President of the European Commission Von der Leyen to Bosnia and Herzegovina is an important step forward on BIH road to the EU, noting that she is made familiar with a new European Economic Growth Programme for Western Balkan countries, worth EUR six billion.
“It is a financial decision on EUR six billion support to countries of the region, bearing EUR 2 billion of non-refundable funds, and EUR 4 billion in loans, Chairwoman Krišto said at a press conference in Sarajevo after the meeting with Von der Leyen.
She said that the Council of Ministers remains committed to fulfilment of expected measures from BIH: accession to the single market, completion of regional market, reforms implementation, as well as an increase of pre-accession assistance.
She pointed that steps towards the EU bring reforms in the areas of human rights, development of democracy, suppression of corruption, as well as harmonisation of BIH foreign and security policies with those of the EU.
President Von der Leyen stated that future of BIH is in the EU, and that on its road to a full EU membership it enjoys a strong support from the Union.
“BIH showed, though formation of government last year and all things done in the first year of mandate, that this country is surely able to bring results”, Von der Leyen stressed.
Speaking of a package of measures in the rule of law area on which BIH worked in previous weeks, she pointed that the aim should be now a determined progressing in realisation of 14 key priorities.
“It will certainly represent a progress in the accession process and will take BIH closer to the European Union“, Von der Leyen assessed.
She emphasised that respect for constitutional arrangement, fundamental freedoms and civil society are basic values of the EU and are absolutely key on the European road, repeating that future of this country is in the EU, as a “single untied and sovereign” country.
When it comes to growth plan for the Western Balkans, President of the europan Commission stressed that it features four principles.
“Your economy is at 35 per cent of the European average. There is a lot of untampered potentials, which is important to us. For that reason we represent the new plan for the Western Balkans. The first component is to open single market to economic entities from the Western Balkans. The second principle is for the Western Balkans to open its borders and complete its regional market. The third one is that, under condition that if we open the single market and if you complete it regionally, it triggers certain reforms implementation required for a better integration. That means a better business environment, digitalisation, preparation of economy for a green transition. The fourth principle following the previous ones are investments”, President Von der Leyen said.
Photoes and videoshootings:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720312361806
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