Conclusion of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to bring the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with BiH into force is encouraging for the BiH’s integration in the EU in every sense, said Director of the Directorate for the European integration Nevenka Savić in an interview with FENA.
According to her, even though BiH will continue fulfilling commitments such as free movement of goods and harmonization of legislation, there will be certain changes, and SAA will definitely bring new quality in relations between BiH and the EU.
She reminded that bringing SAA in force will terminate implementation of Interim Agreement (IA), and that deadlines that are underway according to IA will still be valid.
She emphasized that contractual commitments between BiH and the EU in areas that were not included in the IA, such as movement of workers, business establishment, providing services and movement of capital will be activated.
‘’SAA enables better respecting of principles of justice, freedom, security and implementation of its provisions will increase protection of consumers and personal data, as well as market competitiveness,’’ underlined Savić.
‘’Still, SAA is important and can bring multiple benefits for BiH because it additionally encourages and confirms commitment to integration in the EU and gradual fulfilling of criteria for the membership. SAA also sends positive signals to investors and we can expect increase of employment and gross domestic product,’’ explained Savić.
Asked what ‘painful’ reforms are before BiH, she said those are traditionally reforms which include reduction of budget allocations for certain purposes.
(Source: Fena)
