Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Josip Brkić met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy, Maria Tripodi.
During the meeting, it was confirmed that the bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Italy are extremely good and friendly. The political dialogue at the high level was assessed as satisfactory, which is reflected in recent bilateral visits at the highest levels, as well as in regular meetings in multilateral formats. The importance of holding bilateral consultations in order to further deepen cooperation and strengthen mutual trust was also emphasized.
Deputy Minister Brkić expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Italy for its continuous and strong support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially on its European journey and within the framework of the “Friends of the Western Balkans” initiative, which plays an important role in accelerating the process of the region’s integration into the European Union. He pointed out that the adoption of the negotiation framework and the determination of the date of the First Intergovernmental Conference are of key importance for the further progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards EU membership.
The interlocutors also exchanged views on the enlargement of the European Union in the context of geopolitical relations, as well as the current phase of the European integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. They stressed the importance of the integration of the Southeast European region into the EU, especially when it comes to the economy and the common market. In this context, Deputy Minister Brkić pointed out the interest of third countries in the region, emphasizing that our country’s European path has no alternative.
The focus of the meeting was also economic relations, noting that Italy has been one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s key trade partners for many years.
Deputy Minister Brkić emphasized the significant role of the Republic of Italy as a partner country at last year’s Mostar Economic Fair, which further confirms the commitment to strengthening business ties between the two countries. Deputy Minister Tripodi assessed that the two countries have excellent cooperation, and reported that Italy is undertaking numerous activities to inform Italian investors about the potential and opportunities for investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Security cooperation was also discussed, expressing gratitude for the contribution of the Republic of Italy to the EUFOR Althea mission, in which Italy is taking over the command this year.
Deputy Brkić expressed special gratitude to the Republic of Italy for its contribution to the construction of the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, and highlighted expectations regarding the opening of the Italian Institute for Culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The meeting also discussed regional cooperation, contractual and legal relations, as well as the exceptionally good cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Italy within international organizations and the United Nations system.
