On 29 April 2013 the delegations of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina reported in Brussels to the European Commission on the implementation of the conclusions of the trilateral ministerial meeting of 15 February of the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mr Štefan Füle, with the Minster of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Ms Pusić, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Lagumdžija.
The planned EU legislation which will be applicable at the State border of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as from Croatia’s accession to the EU was clarified, such as all the details of the Special Transit Regime for agricultural products of animal origin from Bosnia and Herzegovina for their export through the Port of Ploče in Croatia. This regime will allow producers and traders to continue to export their goods to third countries. The number of agricultural products allowed to transit to the Port of Ploče has even been enlarged, for the benefit of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy.
The Commission welcomed that all construction works at the Border Crossing Posts and Border Inspection Posts at Bijača / Nova Sela and at Gradiška were completed in time and that the access road on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the new crossing post at Bijača would be ready in time. This is of high importance for the economy in the region and the good neighbourly relationship of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia. The European Commission will continue the bilateral dialogue with Bosnia and Herzegovina to find appropriate solutions for the traffic situation inside the city of Gradiška, following Croatia’s accession to the EU.
The delegations of both countries agreed to finalise the Local Border Traffic Agreement in the next few weeks.
Commissioner Füle plans to invite both Ministers to the next Ministerial Trilateral meeting in June, before the accession of Croatia to the EU.
