Zvizdić – Hahn: BIH May Expect Inclusion of Its Request into the European Union General Affairs Council Agenda

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Dr Denis Zvizdić met in Brussels with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, with whom he talked on a possibility for inclusion of BIH’s request for EU membership at the agenda of the up-coming General Affairs Council of the European Union, as well as the adoption of a Conclusion on forwarding to the European Commission of a request for an Opinion on the BIH request. 

Chairman Zvizdić underlined that Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the adoption of a text Coordination Mechanism for EU issues, has fulfilled the last condition necessary for consideration of the BIH application at September 20 meeting. He said that the further progress in EU integrations is still at the focus of all-level authorities and that BIH is strongly committed to the continuation of reform processes, aiming getting the candidate status by the end of 2017.

Commissioner Hahn commended the progress made by BIH and congratulated to Chairman Zvizdić for removal of the last obstacle to consideration of the application. He said efforts are necessary to continue in the continuation of reform processes and strengthening of regional cooperation.

Chairman Zvizdić informed Commissioner Hahn of the level of realisation of defined aims from the Reform Agenda, saying that the Council of Ministers of BIH has realised 53 per cent of the prescribed measures. He noted the regular course of implementation of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, and informed that the procedures needed for signing of a Protocol, as well as those concerning the establishment of the coordination mechanism-related bodies are in the process of implementation, so the questionnaire is expected to be received as early as possible.

Chairman Zvizdić briefed Commissioner Hahn of the adoption of the transport policy by the Council of Ministers, by which Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfilled the condition for accessing the regional and national EU funds.

They discussed also the current political situation in BIH and a possibility of holding the announced referendum in the Entity of Republika Srpska. Chairman Zvizdičč and Commissioner Hahn agreed that in BIH, as well as in all other countries, court awards, especially those of the Constitutional Court, which is the part of the Constitution of BIH, must be obeyed to. Commissioner Hahn especially stressed that the process of approximation to the European Union requires changed behaviour of all-level authorities in terms of a full respect and promotion of rule of law. Chairman Zvizdić informed Commissioner Hahn of registration of military property, which took place in Han Pijesak recently, underlining that by that move, Bosnia and Herzegovina got closer to NATO integrations and that all political stakeholders in BIH must show responsibility towards the historic chance we have.

Chairman Zvizdić underlined that BIH is committed to maintain the positive momentum of the reform process in order to get, by year 2017, the candidate status for the EU membership, and in that respect so he expects the previous efforts to be recognised on September 20, when the Council is supposed to adopt the Conclusion on forwarding BIH request to the European Commission with an invitation to draft the Opinion on BIH’s membership request.

Commissioner Hahn concluded that he expects the next session of the General Affairs Council to urge the European Commission to start preparations of a questionnaire for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(end)