Members of the leadership of both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PSBiH) held a meeting today with the President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, who is on an official visit to our country.
During the cordial and friendly meeting, the exceptionally close bilateral relations between the two countries, which are bound by deep historical, political, economic and cultural ties, were emphasized.
President Van der Bellen confirmed Austria’s strong and continuous support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path. He emphasized that the future of the entire Western Balkans lies within the European Union, and that Austria remains one of the most vocal advocates of enlargement.
Members of the collegium of both houses of the PSBiH – Speaker of the House of Representatives Darko Babalj, Speaker of the House of Peoples Kemal Ademović, Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples Dr. Nikola Špirić and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr. Denis Zvizdić – informed the Austrian President about the current political situation in BiH, with a focus on fulfilling the key conditions for opening negotiations on our country’s membership in the European Union.
The members of the collegium of both houses of the BiH Parliament especially thanked Austria and its President for their long-standing significant assistance and support to BiH, both politically and economically, since Austria has been one of the largest investors in BiH for years. They emphasized that Austria is not only a partner but also a true friend who understands the complexity and potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this regard, the meeting expressed a mutual desire to further strengthen economic ties, especially in the sectors of infrastructure, agriculture, energy and tourism. The problem that our transporters have within the Schengen area was also mentioned, as well as the issue of further implementation of the agreement on free education for students from BiH in Austria.
President Van der Bellen encouraged the parliamentarians to continue working on reforms that will accelerate the process of European integration, bring concrete benefits to citizens and ensure a better future for the younger generations.
Opinions were exchanged on the situation in the region and Europe, with the assessment that a stable and functional Bosnia and Herzegovina is crucial for peace and stability of the entire continent, the BiH Parliament announced.
