Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Denis Bećirović, addressed the Summit of the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans “Common prosperity and stability of the European Union and the Western Balkans”.
During his address, he pointed out that we are living in a time of deep geopolitical changes and that Europe is in one of the most complex and challenging periods in modern history.
“We are witnessing the destabilization of the global order, geopolitical earthquakes, wars, hybrid threats and growing instability. Connecting the EU with the countries of the Western Balkans is now more important than ever,” said Bećirović.
He stated that the countries of the Western Balkans should learn from the European experience, and that there is no true peace and progress in this part of Europe without abandoning large-state projects.
“The dangerous idea of redrawing state borders is a threat to both the present and the future. Finally, some countries in this part of Europe must understand this,” added Bećirović.
The Chairman of the BiH Presidency said, among other things, that in the past three years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has made significant progress on its European path and has shown that it has the knowledge and capacity to accelerate the path to EU membership.
He emphasized that on December 15, 2022, the European Council decided to grant candidate status for EU membership to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on March 21, 2024, it decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, the foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina is fully harmonized with the foreign and security policy of the EU.
Bećirović pointed out that the dynamics of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s path to EU membership would be even more intense if there were no constant obstructions and blockades of the European and Euro-Atlantic path of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the main factor in the blockade is the pro-Russian and anti-European policy of the current leadership in the Republika Srpska entity.
“The key question is how to speed up activities aimed at building common prosperity and stability of the EU and the Western Balkans? First, we must strengthen security and democracy. These are the two pillars on which stable societies rest. Our joint efforts should be focused on strengthening democratic institutions, promoting democratic values, protecting the rule of law, strengthening security structures and supporting reform processes, civil society and independent media,” stated Bećirović.
The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that it is very important that the citizens of the Western Balkan countries feel the concrete benefits of EU rapprochement.
“Among other things, it is very important to find a solution as soon as possible for the long waiting times at the borders after the establishment of the new EU entry and exit system (EES), integrate the entire region into the single euro payment area (SEPA), abolish roaming charges, as well as launch other concrete initiatives that will benefit every citizen,” said Bećirović, the Cabinet of the Chairman of the BiH Presidency announced.
