SARAJEVO – The European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn on Wednesday, July 15, arrived in a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss the remaining conditions that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to fulfill in order to receive the European Union’s questionnaire as soon as possible.
He met with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Denis Zvizdić and also with members of the BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović and Mladen Ivanić.
Once again, Chairman Zvizdić said that European integration is the key priority for BiH, and informed Commissioner Hahn about the pace and degree of implementation of the agreed measures.
He said that the final version of the coordination mechanisms is in final stages, and that the Council of Ministers recently adopted a report on the completion of negotiations concerning the adaptation of the SAA, which is now forwarded to the Presidency.
Also, he informed Commissioner Hahn about the preparations for the third summit of Western Balkan countries to be held next month in Paris.
Commissioner Hahn congratulated on the progress and on the “good macroeconomic indicators achieved in BiH“. He said that the door to the EU is open for BiH and that he hopes that BiH will receive a questionnaire during the Slovak Republic’s presidency of the EU.
Later, in BiH Presidency building Commissioner Hahn met with the BiH Presidency Chairman Bakir Izetbegović.
Izetbegović confirmed Zvizdić’s statement that BiH Presidency has received the report of the Council of Ministers on the completion of negotiations concerning the adaptation of the SAA, and said that it will be considered in the coming days. He said he hopes to soon finalize an agreement on the establishment of a functional and efficient system of coordination.
Also, Chairman Izetbegović informed Commissioner Hahn about the ongoing preparations for the publication of the census results in BiH.
He said that he expects that the EU member states at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in July this year will consider the application for membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU. In the case that they accept it, he invited the European Commission to prepare an opinion on the application for membership and submit the questionnaire based on which they will assess the level of reaching the criteria for EU membership.
Commissioner Hahn said that BiH should use this positive momentum and commit to the fulfillment of obligations and continue to implement necessary reforms.
The meeting was, on behalf of the Croat member of the BiH Presidency Dragan Čović, attended by his adviser Sanja Bazina.