If I could describe Report on Progress of BiH that was adopted by the European Commission in Brussels today with one word, I would say stagnation or disappointment, said Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative Ambassador Peter Sorensen at a press conference in Sarajevo today.
He emphasized there are no surprises in the Report, but there are several positive things.
”The overall image shows BiH as a country which is dealing with series of challenges. BiH and its citizens deserve much better and you have every opportunity to join the EU, and the only thing that is stopping you are yourselves and that is disappointing,” said Sorensen.
He emphasized the Report was made based on information from different sources, such as NGOs and different administrative sources, but this year the Report does not have information from representatives of authority in BiH, because they could not agree on content of the information.
”That shows what problems the Report emphasizes, which is inability to agree on priorities and policies. Coordination is one of the weaknesses in structure of BiH and it is demonstrated in the fact there was no response from BiH to the Report,” he emphasized.
Sorensen emphasized it is very clear that in economic sense BiH will face challenges in the upcoming period, not only in sense of potential membership in the EU, but in collecting debts that will catch up this country soon.
”Problems like new workplaces, generating revenue, etc. must be solved. We truly want to see progress in BiH,” he emphasized.
Sorensen said he leaves a great task to his successor and he added all tasks are clear, and that is opening new workplaces. He also emphasized it is positive that the EU Delegation to BiH is supporting BiH and it has a plan.
Sorensen said that establishing a body to combat corruption and census that was successfully carried out are some of the positive things in the Report.
”However, this is not enough, because it is not enough to establish an agency to combat corruption, but there must be staff and funding,” explained Sorensen.
European Commission concluded in its Report on Progress in 2014 that BiH made very limited progress.
(Source: Fena)
