The Head of the Delegation of the European Union/EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, and Ambassador of the United States of America to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Patrick Moon, hosted a meeting with the BiH Minister of Security, Fahrudin Radoncic, the FBiH Minister of Interior, Predrag Kurtes, and the RS Minister of Interior, Radislav Jovicic, in Sarajevo today.
The purpose of the meeting was to address issues where Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union and the United States share common interests in the areas of law enforcement, home affairs and public security. Most of the issues discussed are linked to the fight against organised crime and corruption.
HoD/EUSR Sorensen explained that the experience of past enlargements of the EU has shown that chapters 23 and 24 of the EU ‘acquis’ covering, respectively, judiciary and fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security are the most difficult in the membership negotiation process.
“Rule of law is a prerequisite to a democracy. Without a reliable justice system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, economic development opportunities are severely limited and citizens feel the negative consequences. A new methodology has been introduced by the EU for future negotiations, where these two chapters will be opened first and most probably closed last. The new methodology will put a focus on increasing ownership and adaptation of the accession country,” Ambassador Sorensen stated.
The United States and the EU are in full agreement on the importance of the rule of law and public security when it comes to BiH’s progress towards integration into European and Atlantic institutions. That integration is the key foreign policy goal shared by the EU, the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina, announced the EU Delegation.
Addressing participants in the meeting, Ambassador Moon stated:
“The people of BiH, from all corners, want more to be done in the fight against corruption and organized crime. The presence of the three ministers today is particularly significant as it reinforces our belief that only through close cooperation and consultation, within and across the entities, and between the state and entities, can we make real progress in the security sector. The United States and EU share the same goals regarding BiH’s European future and we will continue our close cooperation with you in the law enforcement and security sectors.”
This meeting was one of a series of meetings, where home affairs and public security issues will be discussed in order to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path toward full integration into the European Union.
