First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusic confirmed ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg that the EU foreign ministers would discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina. “It is good that we brought Bosnia and Herzegovina back on the agenda, that the meeting will discuss and reaffirm its EU membership prospects. It will be noted in the conclusions of the meeting that a broader approach is required and that EU institutions should play a more active role in helping Bosnia and Herzegovina meet the necessary criteria. We are not advocating lowering of the criteria but a proactive approach that will make it possible for Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach those criteria. We need to convince BiH that it can be done,” Pusic said.
Asked whether non-implementation of the Sejdic-Finci ruling would affect the situation, the minister replied: “That is a continuous task and, as far as I know, there are three proposals on how it should be implemented. It is about the constitutive nations on the one hand and the protection of the minorities before and after the election on the other.”
Concerning the situation in Ukraine and Putin’s letter, Pusic said that "the situation in Ukraine is also affecting our region because of the energy situation and is dictating the agenda of the meeting. There was a realistic danger of Bosnia and Herzegovina being taken off the agenda. However, now it will be discussed.”
“This shows how important the EU"s energy policy is and through it the position and contribution of our region to alternative energy sources and routes," Pusic said.
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