Three agreements were signed yesterday in Brussels between BiH and Croatia.
The agreement between BiH and Croatia on border crossings and the agreement between BiH and Croatia on border traffic was signed by Chairman of the BIH Council of Ministers Vjekoslav Bevanda on behalf of BiH.
The Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Zlatko Lagumdžija and the first Vice-President of Croatia and the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić signed a joint statement on the interpretation and application of Article 11 of the Agreement on free transit through the territory of Croatia and from and to the port of Ploče and through the territory of BiH to Neum.
The joint statement enables a smooth transport of goods from Croatia in transit through the Neum corridor in accordance with the applicable acquis of the EU.
At the same time, the issue of transit of goods from BiH through the port of Ploče resolves the derogation of the acquis of the EU because through the port of Ploče it transits products from BiH that are not in accordance with standards of the EU.
The derogation of the EU acquis formally retained the possibility for BiH to continue to use the port of Ploče under the favorable regime.
The port of Ploče remains for BiH strategic importance, said Minister Lagumdžija, and a logical and shortest route for the international exchange of goods.
“This is the second time in history of the EU that the rules are changed in order to meet the needs of a non-member state, the first time in the Kaliningrad corridor and the second time in our country, and in this way it has free access to the port of Ploče in the EU’’, he said.
With the agreement on border crossings, border crossings are defined on the state borders between BiH and Croatia for international road transport of passengers and goods, in accordance with the legislation of the contracting parties that should be subject to inspection controls during transport across the common border, border crossings for international road transport of passengers and goods and for the transport of fruits and vegetables, that in accordance with the legislation of the contracting parties shall be subject to the control of compliance with market standards and establishing safety during transport across the common border.
Also, border crossings for international passenger and freight traffic and road traffic are designated, for rail traffic, as well as for permanent border crossings of traffic.
With the agreement on border traffic, a border regime or system of rules has been established, which governs trade in the border area between BiH and Croatia.
After the ceremony of signing of the agreement, there was a trilateral ministerial meeting where they spoke of the special transit of the regime through the port of Ploče and the Pre-Feasibility Study for the Neum corridor.
Dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija led the BiH delegation at the ministerial meeting. The repeated commitment of BiH for the issue of connecting the territory of Croatia is resolved to the satisfaction of the two countries, with the principle of finding the best solution and respect for international law, announced the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
