The exit of Great Britain from the European Union is a tough political strike for Europe, so the question of the consequences of this decision on the other countries of the European continent arises justifiably. Former minister of foreign affairs of BiH Zlatko Lagumdžija and the political analyst Ivana Marić commented on the influence of Brexit on the European integration of BiH.
Former minister of foreign affairs of BiH and Professor at the Faculty of Economy in Sarajevo Zlatko Lagumdžija said that the decision of the citizens of Great Britain was not expected.
“The decision is made and there is no going back. The decision is bad for the EU, but I think it is much worse for Great Britain primarily because of economic reasons, which is already evident from the fall of the pound and the London stock exchange,” Lagumdžija said.
Lagumdžija highlighted that results of the referendum showed how populism and demagogy became a powerful weapon in the hands of people who do not approach politics responsibly.
Furthermore, Lagumdžija said that for the Western Balkans and especially for BiH it is important to point out that Brexit will reflect on BiH only as much as the citizens allow it.
“Europe will now be busy dealing with its own problems. The entire process of the exit of the Great Britain will last for two years in the best possible case, but it must not be forgotten that the President of the European Commission said that the EU will not expand until 2020 even before the referendum was in sight,” Lagumdžija said.
Professor Lagumdžija added that such decision of the Great Britain does not prevent BiH in the implementation of reforms, but that domestic politicians should be encouraged to implement measures from the reform agenda, i.e. measures from the initiative of the EU.
Political analyst Ivana Marić said that the decision of British people was a great surprise in Europe and other countries. Although the surveys gave equal opportunity for victory to both sides, not many people expected this outcome of the referendum.
When asked what consequences this decision will have for Great Britain, EU and other countries, Marić said that it is difficult to predict how the situation will develop in the future.
Marić pointed out that, after facing the influx of refugees and migrants, the EU placed the issue of BiH in the second, or even the third plan.
“Especially because of the frivolous approach of our politicians and the inability to reach an agreement on basic reforms, less and less initiatives and important politicians from the EU come to our country,” Marić said.
Marić added that the EU politicians, worried with their own problems, let the domestic politicians in BiH to solve problems, and they evidently do not manage to do that.
“Only bits and pieces of the announced economic and social reforms are implemented and insoluble problems pile up. Despite the minimal progresses, the BiH politicians try to assure the EU that even that should be enough and the EU, currently faced with the exit of Britain from the union, will certainly not want to spend the precious time on that,” Marić said.
(Source: klix.ba/photo: theguardian.com)
