The member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Bećirović, conveying the details of today’s meeting in Sarajevo with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, said that it is very important for Bosnia and Herzegovina to maintain direct communication with key European leaders.
Bećirović points out that Ursula von der Leyen is a proven friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina and reminds that this is his second official meeting with her in a year.
After Bosnia and Herzegovina received candidate status on December 15 last year, Bećirović says that today’s conversation was also very important and encouraging, and that it brings a new dose of optimism.
He believes that by the middle of December of this year, new positive steps will be taken by the European Union towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Despite the obstructions, we have made certain important new steps forward, which was confirmed today by the President of the European Commission. Her visit is extremely important because it takes place on the eve of the publication of the progress report. The common interest of both ruling and opposition parties must be to speed up our European path. Everyone must learn that our European path is not a matter of one individual, one party or one mandate. It is a strategic and generational issue on which we must work together,” Bećirović’s words.
According to his statement, he told the president of the European Commission that the commission’s recommendation for opening negotiations would have a huge positive contribution to strengthening the reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That would be a great encouragement for all peoples and citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The start of negotiations on membership in the European Union would open up space for fundamental reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and all of this would have a positive impact on the entire society, Bećirović said.
“I particularly emphasized the importance of the financial package of the European Union for the countries of the Western Balkans. The investment of six billion euros, of which 20 percent would go to Bosnia and Herzegovina, is of great importance for our country. The financial support of the European Union would have positive effects on the standard of living of citizens and would accelerate the economic development of the country as a whole. Also, during the conversation with the President of the European Commission, I said that due to geopolitical challenges in Europe and the world, Bosnia and Herzegovina must not be allowed to remain without the strong support of the European Union. Our country’s path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration has no alternative,” concluded the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
