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 and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels.
Konaković addressed the meeting and then participated in an informal exchange of opinions between the ministers of foreign affairs of the Western Balkans and the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU on cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy.
He said that Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to be a constructive partner to its neighbors, committed to promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region, as well as strengthening regional cooperation and building trust in the region.
He reported that in just over 100 days of work, the BiH Council of Ministers adopted important decisions, draft laws, strategic documents and proposals related to our European path. He added that this week, with the aim of speeding up European integration, the first high-level meeting of the Political Forum was held with the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Olivér Várhelyi.
He then stated that he expects that by the end of the year, by fulfilling the essential prerequisites and implementing the foreseen reforms, BiH will begin a new phase, that is, the opening of negotiations on EU accession. In the continuation of the address, the minister referred to the geopolitical moment, with an emphasis on EU expansion and Russian aggression on Ukraine, as well as problems shared by the countries of the region.
He warned about the phenomenon of brain drain and the departure of young people from the countries of the Western Balkans. He said that Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to be a constructive partner to its neighbors, committed to promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the region, as well as strengthening regional cooperation and building trust in the region.
On the sidelines of the meeting of the Council for Foreign Affairs of the EU, Konaković met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland, Micheál Martin, with whom he discussed the intensification of cooperation between the two countries and European integration.
Konaković thanked the Irish minister for the significant support that the Republic of Ireland has continuously provided to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path, especially when it comes to obtaining candidate status for EU membership, stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
