The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Bećirović, stated at a meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, in Brussels, that the stability of BiH and the region cannot be viewed separately from the overall security of the European continent.
He emphasized that attempts at destabilization in BiH are part of a broader context of pressures on the European security space.
“Increasing the pace of progress towards full EU membership is not only one of the strategic goals of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also a clear commitment of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as over 75 percent of citizens clearly express support for EU membership in all surveys,” said Bećirović.
The Chairman of the Presidency of BiH emphasized that the harmonization of the state’s foreign policy with the EU’s common foreign and security policy is not only a strategic commitment, but also a contractual obligation of our country.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a responsible and reliable partner of the EU. This is evidenced by the fact that in the last three years we have aligned Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign policy with the EU’s foreign and security policy,” Bećirović emphasized.
He also said that Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to actively contribute to the stability of the European continent as a future full member of the EU and NATO, especially by jointly responding to modern security challenges and threats.
He warned of numerous hybrid threats that are trying to weaken the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its institutions. In this regard, the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH emphasized the need to strengthen more concrete cooperation with relevant EU institutions to combat hybrid threats, including cybersecurity, protection of critical infrastructure, diversification of energy sources, strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions, combating malign influences and the spread of disinformation.
Bećirović said that the EU enlargement policy in the new geopolitical context is not just a technical process, but a strategic instrument that strengthens the stability, security and political cohesion of Europe. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s membership in the EU, according to Bećirović, should be seen as a geopolitical investment in the stability and security of the European continent.
High Representative Kallas thanked the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH for choosing Brussels as the first foreign policy address during his presidency. She reiterated the European Union’s strong support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as its European path.
She stressed that EU enlargement is a key geostrategic instrument for strengthening stability and security in Europe. She particularly emphasized the importance of EU support to Bosnia and Herzegovina through the European Peace Facility (EPF), all with the aim of strengthening defense capacities, supporting the activities of the Armed Forces of BiH and their participation in military operations, according to a statement from the Office of the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Denis Bećirović.
