The EU firmly is firmly orientated to supporting the progress of BiH towards the EU, said the Special Representative of the EU to BiH Peter Sorensen today at the opening of the international economic fair “Mostar 2013”.
“We are and will remain the strongest form of support to BiH in its economic reforms and efforts to make the rule of law and fight against corruption the focus of its domestic policy’’, said Sorensen.
He added that the EU is very satisfied with the progress that has been achieved in the last year by countries in the region on their path to the EU.
“Croatia has only ten weeks until it becomes the 28th member state of the EU. Serbia and Macedonia have candidate status for EU membership, and negotiations have been open for Montenegro. We wish for BiH to become a part of our unique market, and to be a part of the EU as soon as it is ready’’, said Sorensen.
He said that he is very happy that the EU is a partner of this year’s forum that gathers 700 exhibitors from around 40 countries, making the fair the height of the economic year in BiH and in the region.
The EU is a partner of the fair due to joint interest, and that is trade. 27 EU member states owe their progress because trade was based on cooperation.
“On this basis we have established a single market of free movement of capital, services and people. We believe that this approach will be good for us in the Western Balkans, as it was proved to be good for us’’, said Sorensen.
He called on all visitors to the fair to visit the EU booth, where they will be welcomed by experts from the EU to speak to them about the possibilities of obtaining financial funds from the EU for small and medium sized businesses, cross-border tourism and energy potential, and where more will be found out about Spain, Romania and the Netherlands, whose embassies will be present at this year’s fair.