Manager of Directorate of the European Integration of BiH (DEI BiH) Nevenka Savić believes that in 2013 BiH could enter the final phase on its path to the EU.
In an interview for ”Nezavisne Novine” she reminds that BiH, according to the last report on progress, is the only country of the regions that still doesn’t have a candidate status.
”After getting the candidate status, a complex and burdensome job awaits us, and time plays a crucial role in that job”, said Nevenka.
Commenting the announcements that BiH could fulfil the conditions and apply to get the candidate status in the EU by mid-year, Savić said that according to the road map from July 2012, and according to the conclusions of the meeting of the “Dialogue on the high level of Accession to the EU “, the amendment of the Constitution of BiH in accordance with the Sejdić-Finci ruling; the consistent implementation of the Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade related Issues; the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the establishment of effective coordination of EU affairs, are the key elements that for BiH to fulfil in order to give a credible membership request to the EU.
”Conclusion from the second meeting of the “Dialogue on the high level of Accession to the EU are on the trail of the aforementioned announcement “, said Savić.
When asked whether it is realistic to predict that BiH, if everything goes according to plan, could become a member of the European Union by 2020, N. Savic said that it is forecast about the date, the year is a thankless task, because of changing factors that influence the process of EU accession.
“However, two facts are indisputable: progress in the process of integration is evaluated for each country separately. For example, Austria negotiated for only 13 months, and Macedonia has had the candidate status for 8 years, but they still don’t have the date of the beginning of negotiations. Second fact is that there are no shortcuts for the accession agreement, and every part of the process takes time. For the example, in one of the surrounding countries, the period from the moment of applying for the membership to moment of obtaining the candidate status lasted a year and a half”, said, among other things, N.Savić.
