The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens hosted in Brussels the representatives of the Center for New Initiatives (CNI) and high-ranking politicians of the center-right parties from BiH, Martin Raguž, Senad Šepić, Igor Crnadak and Amer Obradović (CNI), and the Director of Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Sarajevo Sabina Woelkner.
The President of the biggest political group in the European Parliament gave his support to the political concept that promotes CNI, and which is based on political integration, dialogue and internal arrangements, and joint appearances of center right parties.
It was concluded that the current political elite does not exercise much anticipated reforms for the European path, and that BiH citizens have to stop being held hostage by bad political decisions and assessments.
They also agreed on concrete steps to improve cooperation between CNI and EPP, and President Martens announced a visit to BiH and a greater presence of the European People’s Party in BiH.
In addition to the meeting with Martens and his associates, they spoke with the Director of the Center for European Studies (CES) Tomi Huhtanen, where both sides expressed willingness for CNI to become involved in more European programs.
There was also a meeting with a member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur for BIH Doris Pack, and the topics of discussion were the disastrous consequences of the current political situation and attitudes towards commitments and capabilities to create a different political environment inside BiH, one which would be supported by European partners.
This visit was also a sort of recognition to CNI, which gathers and works on joint programs of parties from both BIH entities, and is recognized in European circles as an alternative option for parties in BiH to reform as a modern right center party.
