If the European Union (EU) accepts the six countries of the Western Balkans, there will no longer be gray areas in Europe, said today in Sarajevo the German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, who is on an official visit to Bi+osna and Herzegovina.
After meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, and the delegation of the two countries, Baerbock stated that the European idea was defended in Sarajevo 30 years ago.
“Just as the heart of Europe beats in Kiev today, in the 90s it beat here, in European Sarajevo,” said Baerbock.
She pointed out that Germany is BiH’s largest foreign trade partner, one of the largest investors in the country, and believes that the investment potential is even greater.
“This meeting is not accidental, it is happening at a decisive time – on BiH’s path to the EU. The country is at a decisive crossroads. There are moments in history when the opportunity must be used. We want to do everything together to step into the EU. We await the report of the European Commission , which will evaluate progress on the way to the opening of accession negotiations,” said Baerbock.
She added that progress on the path of enlargement can only be possible if reforms are carried out quickly. She added that the adoption of the law against money laundering and terrorist financing was an important part of this “puzzle”.
Pointing out that Germany wants BiH to “enter the EU as a whole country”, Baerbock said that “the biggest poison for humanity is the violent change of borders”.
“It has brought so much suffering to our continent and the whole world, because of that what is true for everyone is true. A country can only become a member of the EU together. The government cannot act without the opposition. Politics cannot act without civil society, a region cannot act without another. All the forces from one country are needed for this, so we need to emphasize that we will clearly name the secessionist fantasies that want to put stones on this road, because only a common BiH can go on the road to the EU,” said Baerbock , appealing to politicians in Banja Luka to walk together on the European road.
She pointed out that the diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be the wealth of the European Union, whose motive is “unity in diversity”.
“That is why Bosnia and Herzegovina is destined for this and I hope that we will decide at the European level at the end of March”, added the German minister.
Baerbock said that the accession process is not happening pro forma, but it is an important contribution to strengthening countries in the field of democracy, rule of law and active civil society.
“There must be no gray areas in Europe. We have seen in the past years, for which the EU also bears responsibility, that enlargement was in the back drawer and we saw what that means. We did not jointly strengthen the European continent. That is why I want all six countries of the Western The Balkans can join the EU, but preconditions must be created for that,” said Baerbock.
When asked whether Germany and France have the same views on the Western Balkans, Baerbock said that the two countries strongly support the same views.
“Enlargement is a geopolitical necessity. We are convinced that it will strengthen Europe if we receive the six countries of the Western Balkans, because there will no longer be gray areas in Europe. This will show that we stand together in our diversity, which is the strength of Europe,” Baerbock said. .
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, said that the visit of the German minister is an important message to the citizens of BiH and that it signifies the continuation of good cooperation between the two countries.
He also said that Germany has been one of BiH’s most important economic partners for many years and that Germany’s support for BiH’s European path is very important.
“The very different approach of the European Union regarding the issue of enlargement itself provided an opportunity for the BiH authorities to catch that European train. The specific offers that we have on the EU table regarding the integration of our market into the large European market, a large package of support or assistance to the Western Balkans are examples of the EU in at this moment, it really opens the door wide and I hope that my colleagues, above all we who make up the government at the BiH level, will continue with these not so easy reforms, agreements and compromises, but still for the sake of the interests of all people in BiH, they will complete their obligations to the end. “Regardless of the current momentum, we have the obligation to adopt several more important laws from these 14 priorities, or these eight after obtaining candidate status,” Konaković said.
Referring to the journalist’s question about Russia’s influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Konaković said that that country, apart from the gas that Bosnia and Herzegovina imports, “is not doing anything special in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they are waiting and collecting the frustrations of the people in these areas and turning them into their own interests.”
“I hope that there will be no frustrations, that there will be positive European energy that will take this country to a higher level of the European path and facilitate further dialogues and compromises,” said Konaković.
On Monday, Bosnia and Herzegovina was visited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani, and the Minister of European and International Affairs of Austria, Aleksander Schallenberg who sent strong messages of support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path.
Official visits by European officials precede the summit of the European Council in March, at which the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina will be decided, AA writes.
