Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković said in Budapest that BiH now has a generation of politicians who are ready for dialogue and compromise in order to implement reforms, stop the departure of young people and create an atmosphere for a better life for citizens.
Konaković, who participated in the annual conference of heads of diplomatic and consular missions of Hungary, emphasized that everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina has high expectations from Brussels, given that, according to the assessment of European officials, it achieved progress and the best report of the European Commission in history when it’s about the road to the EU.
He emphasized that this is a key phase of the European integration process, and that intensive work is being done and additional efforts are being made in order to meet the conditions and continue the started reforms.
Konaković assessed that this is a demanding process, but he hopes that the European Council will recognize the progress and make a decision to open negotiations with BiH, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in the Council of Ministers.
In the context of EU enlargement due to the geopolitical moment, Konaković warned of the consequences if that process does not continue, both in BiH and in the region.
He hopes, as he said, that in this case the EU will show the qualities of leadership and not bureaucracy.
Konaković evaluated regional cooperation and initiatives as successful, with an emphasis on the Berlin process and pointed to the importance of economic processes and trade exchange between BiH and the EU, and the support package that gives BiH the opportunity to significantly integrate its market into the EU market.
Konaković participated in the meeting in Budapest at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Peter Sijart, with whom he had numerous meetings in the last few months, and thanked him and Hungary for the help and support they provide BiH on its European path.
The annual conference of Hungarian ambassadors is held in the form of a panel discussion, which Hungary offered as an aid to its diplomatic-consular network when it comes to lobbying, advocacy and promotion of information about BiH’s progress on the way to the EU.
As a member of the EU, Hungary plays an important role in supporting BiH’s efforts towards European integration, offering assistance in the accession process.
Hungary will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU from July 1, and one of the objectives of the presidency is to speed up the process of integration of the countries of the Western Balkans.
