Judging by all the signals we received from the European Union, by the diplomatic offensive in the form of numerous significant delegations that visited BiH in the last few months, and especially by the positive report of the European Commission and President Von der Leyen’s recommendation to open negotiations with BiH, we have a lot the right to be optimistic and to expect a positive response from the EU.
This was announced today by the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the President of the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, a day before the start of the meeting of the European Council, where it will be decided on the start of the accession negotiations of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European Union.
”Bosnia and Herzegovina is moving forward. We have adopted laws that have been pending for years, and we have launched reforms that will enable faster development of the country and ensure a better life for all our citizens. The negotiation process with the EU has already started for us a long time ago. Since taking power, we have been negotiating with EU representatives, concluding agreements, establishing solid diplomatic relations with all EU member states and agreeing economic cooperation,” said Nikšić.
After ten years of negative reports on BiH’s progress, as he stated, the EU does not hide its satisfaction that it can finally write that progress is visible and that more has been achieved in one year than in the previous ten years.
As Nikšić underlined, of course there is no place for any euphoria, the work is not finished yet, March 21 is the day when we expect a decision, and in any case there is still a lot of work ahead of us.
He considers it very important that by talking and agreeing with partners, they enabled the adoption of important laws that remain in force regardless of the EU decision. In this way, he adds, they improve the image of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the world and that after a long time they consider us worthy partners for conversation.
“We achieved all this by replacing spreading fear and raising tensions with conversation, agreement, strengthening of trust and necessary compromise. They accused us of giving in, of betraying, of selling, and now they are silent and wonder how we managed to get so much without giving anything. Neither we gained anything nor anyone lost anything. There are no winners or losers. Without any of the participants in the conversation, there would be no evident progress and agreement. The only winners from the opening of negotiations are all the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in every corner of our country. This is very important to us because we do not know our and their citizens and peoples nor our and their municipalities, cities, cantons and entities ,” emphasized Nikšić in a post on social networks.
In the end, he says that there is still a lot of work ahead of BiH, that this is only the beginning and that they do not intend to stop until citizens are assured of quality living conditions, not only that they no longer leave BiH, but that those who have left it begin to return to their homes, Fena news agency reports.
