The Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, met in Brussels with the Commissioner of the European Commission for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi.
After the meeting, Varhelyi announced on the “X” social network that the European Commission’s report on BiH is being prepared ahead of the March session of the European Council.
“We are working to resolve open issues and continue EU reforms,” said Varhelyi.
Reforms are crucial for the progress and development of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Before the bilateral meeting with Varhelyi, Kristo spoke with members of the General Affairs Council of the European Union (GAC). The hosts of the meeting were Varhelyi and the Federal Minister of the Republic of Austria for European Union and Constitutional Affairs Karolina Edtstadler.
Kristo pointed out that the work and progress of our country regarding the European path is evident, and that the achieved progress is the result of reaching a consensus on all important issues, which is also the principle of work and decision-making in the Council of Ministers of BiH.
She emphasized that the progress achieved during 2023 continued in 2024 with accelerated dynamics, and that the SM BiH achieved significant progress in fulfilling 8+1 conditions, i.e. 14 key priorities. She highlighted the alignment of our country’s foreign and security policy for the first time at the level of 100% alignment with the EU’s foreign and security policy.
She pointed out that it is crucial that the solution to the reform of the electoral legislation, like all others, must be the result of internal dialogue and agreement, because the only solution of the BiH institutions can ensure long-term security, stability and improve relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“As we continue our journey towards membership in the European Union, we must remember that reforms are key to our own progress and development. They are not only an obligation to the EU, but a moral and practical necessity for building a better future for all of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore , I am convinced that the EU, bearing in mind first of all our results but also the effort and progress achieved, will open negotiations for us in March,” said Kristo.
At the end of the meeting, the chairperson of the BiH Council of Ministers said that our complete commitment to real reforms and readiness to face the challenges that lie ahead of us clearly demonstrate our commitment to European integration and BiH’s desire to become a full member of the European family.
“The opening of negotiations would not only be a recognition of our efforts so far, but also an incentive for further steps towards the achievement of our common goals. I am convinced that together with you we will continue to build a stable and prosperous European Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this sense, we believe that the European Union will , as our partner, continue to encourage and support. The key to success and the foundation of sustainable stability lie in the solutions that emerge from the dialogue and decisions of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, I will emphasize once again that only together can we achieve the goals we have set on the road to the European union”, Kristo pointed out.
Let us remind you that next month the European Council should consider the possibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina opening accession negotiations with the EU.
In order to open accession negotiations, it is necessary for Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt certain reform laws. The ruling coalition at the state level has not yet reached an agreement on the adoption of the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest and the Law on Courts, BHRT writes.
