The Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Davor Bunoza, met today in Sarajevo with the Minister of Justice of Austria, Alma Zadić, who reaffirmed her country’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path.
Bunoza stated that they talked with the Austrian minister about the laws that BiH must adopt in order to progress on the way to the European Union, and about the rule of law and the help that BiH can expect from the EU countries.
“Through today’s exchange of opinions and experiences, we actually came to some important knowledge and I hope that we in Bosnia and Herzegovina will actually be able to use all the friends who want to help us in the EU, and there are a lot of them,” said Bunoza.
Austrian Minister of Justice Alma Zadić, born in Tuzla, pointed out that since her last visit to Sarajevo two years ago, important progress has been made in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was officially granted the status of a candidate country for membership in the European Union.
“I want to encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina and you to continue on this path and preserve this momentum by all available means. Austria, and I want to emphasize this once again, has been a strong advocate for the accession of the Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, to come to the center of discussions within of the European Union. This is an important issue for Austria, it is a question of credibility, fairness, and we as Austrians insist on equal conditions for everyone,” Zadić said.
She added that the common goal is European integration that leads to greater stability, prosperity and peace for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region and Europe.
She said that for progress on the path to the EU, it is important to implement the Law on the Court, the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Law on the Protection of Personal Data and the Law on Border Control.
“As I heard that three laws have already been completed and that one is still being worked on, I want to say how important it is to continue this effort in order to improve the judicial system and the fight against corruption,” explained Zadić.
She stated that the rule of law along with transparent and fair legal procedures forms the basis of a democratic society.
“Therefore, the rule of law is essential for EU membership and must be a priority. The future of Bosnia and Herzegovina also lies in the EU. For Austria and for me, as Minister of Justice, dedication to the rule of law, human rights, as well as strengthening the stability of the region represent key political priorities. With my visit, I want to emphasize once again that BiH and Austria remain firmly connected. Austria will continue to support BiH on its way to EU membership,” Zadić said, BHRT writes.
