The Presidency of BiH, in an emergency telephone session, adopted a proposal for the basis for initiating negotiations with Croatia on an interstate agreement that would begin the implementation of the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline project.
The next step involves the start of negotiations between the delegations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, after which the agreed draft agreement should be sent to the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Government of the Republic of Croatia for consideration.
If the Council of Ministers confirms the agreement, the document is returned to the Presidency of BiH for ratification. In that case, the signing of the agreement could take place by the end of the month in Dubrovnik, where the Three Seas Initiative summit will be held.
After the completion of the entire procedure and the entry into force of the agreement, the way would be opened for the continuation of activities on the construction of the gas pipeline.
Earlier, the institutions of the Federation of BiH adopted an amended law that allows for the implementation of the project through the American company AAFS, to which the Government of the Federation of BiH would grant a concession.
The BiH negotiating team will consist of Staša Košarac as head of the delegation and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Elmedin Konaković as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Srđan Amidžić as Minister of Finance, Vedran Lakić as Minister of Energy of the FBiH, Nasiha Pozder as Minister of Environment and Tourism of the FBiH, Toni Kraljević as Minister of Finance of the FBiH, and Vedran Škobić as Minister of Justice of the FBiH.
The Southern Interconnection project envisages the construction of a gas pipeline on the route Zagvozd in Croatia via Posušje to Novi Travnik, i.e. Travnik, with a branch towards Mostar. The aim of the project is to ensure diversification of routes and sources of natural gas supply and further strengthen the energy security of the Federation of BiH.
