The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković participated today, at the invitation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, in the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU member states and the countries of the Western Balkans within the session of the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels .
At the meeting, it was pointed out that the goal of the European Union is to strengthen engagement in the area of the Western Balkans with an emphasis on common foreign and security policy in the context of geopolitical challenges in the European neighborhood and the Middle East. There was also talk about the recently published report on the progress of candidate countries for membership in the European Union.
On that occasion, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi referred to the European path of the countries of the Western Balkans and the obligations they face in order to speed up the integration process. When it comes to BiH, he welcomed the progress made, in accordance with the published report.
As announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister Konaković emphasized in his address that Bosnia and Herzegovina, encouraged by the positive aspects of the enlargement report, will continue to work diligently on the implementation of 14 key priorities from the Opinion of the European Commission in order to facilitate the start of negotiations and integration into the EU.
He assessed that the upcoming meeting of the European Council in December represents an opportunity for the EU to fulfill its promises and maintain the credibility of the enlargement process in the Western Balkans region. He called on the EU member states to understand the importance, effect and consequences of the decision they need to make when it comes to BiH and its European path.
He emphasized that strengthening our ties and improving cooperation in security areas are extremely important at this moment when we are witnessing a period of uncertainty due to significant geopolitical shifts. He reiterated that BiH is committed to harmonizing its foreign policy with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU and that this year’s percentage of compliance is 100 percent.
He also referred to the importance of regional cooperation and good neighborly relations within the process of enlargement, stabilization and association.
During his visit to Brussels, Minister Konaković participated in a meeting with the ministers of foreign affairs of the Western Balkan countries organized by the ministers of the “Friends of the Western Balkans” group, which consists of Italy, Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The meeting discussed the expansion of the EU to the Western Balkans until 2030, and how to keep the Western Balkans at the top of the EU agenda.
At the meeting, Minister Konaković welcomed the adoption of the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which was adopted by the European Commission, in order to speed up the reform path and the enlargement process and strengthen economic growth.
He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina provides unwavering support for further economic convergence of the Western Balkans to the EU single market, through the process of Union enlargement, because it is mutually beneficial, both for the countries of the region and for the EU.
He pointed out that BiH welcomes the initiative of the group of friends to strengthen cooperation in various EU policies, and that we are already ready to engage even more when it comes to the area of EU foreign and security policy.
Photo: Fena
