Members of the Presidency with Hahn: The European Road to BiH has no alternative

BiH Presidency Chairman Dragan Čović and BiH Presidency Member Bakir Izetbegović talked today in Sarajevo with EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and enlargement negotiations Johannes Hahn on the EU integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress made in that regard.

Members of the BiH Presidency said that the European path has no alternative, despite the current situation, and expressed the belief that all obligations will be fulfilled on time, so that BiH can get a candidate status in the near future. In this regard, they recalled the conclusion of the BiH Presidency, which binds the finalization of the European Commission's Questionnaire and its translation, ending on December 15th.

The meeting expressed satisfaction that the Western Balkans will be in the focus of Bulgaria's EU Presidency in the first half of 2018, and that one of the priorities will be the EU's future in the Western Balkans. The importance of holding the Summit Western Balkans - EU in Sofia on May 17, 2018, was also highlighted. They are encouraging and announcing that, during the presidency of Austria, the EU Council in the second half of 2018 will occupy the Western Balkans and integrate that part of the Balkans into the EU in their agenda of presidency.

The importance of using a positive momentum in the light of the forthcoming presidencies of countries that are very familiar with the situation in the region is emphasized and are ready to keep the EU integration process of the Western Balkans high on the agenda of the EU.

Members of the BiH Presidency expressed their gratitude for the previous support provided by the EU institutions and the Member States to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of European integration, and hopes that the support of EU institutions and member states will continue in the future as part of BiH's progress on its EU path in the process of obtaining candidate status.

Hahn expressed the EU's commitment to BiH's prospects, and called on all levels of government in BiH to continue the ongoing implementation of the necessary reforms, as well as the submission of the response to the Questionnaire to the European Commission as soon as possible.

In the name of the BiH Presidency member from the Republic of Srpska Mladen Ivanić, the meeting was attended by advisor Marija Milic, the BiH Presidency said.

• 4 Dec, 2017
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