Croatia will advocate opening negotiations on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union by the end of this year, but BiH also must do its part, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said in Brussels on Thursday before the start of a meeting of the Stabilisation and Association Council.
The Stabilisation and Association Council is a joint body of BiH and the EU, and it is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Such agreements are intended for the countries of the Western Balkans with the aim of preparing them and bringing them closer to EU membership. The Stabilisation and Association Council consists of representatives of member states and the Commission, as well as representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Grlić Radman said he was coming to the meeting to express his support for the Chair of the BiH Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, and to praise what her government had achieved so far at the national level in the field of justice, public procurement, strengthening cooperation with the European Union and its agencies.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina will have Croatia’s strong support in its European ambitions, as confirmed at the recent joint session of our governments. Institutional stability and functioning are key. We also support programmes of cross-border cooperation,” said Grlić Radman. He underscored that electoral reforms were important for meeting the 14 priorities as well as for BiH’s long-term stability. “Implementing electoral reforms will ensure true political equality of the constituent peoples and guarantee basic rights to all citizens, in line with the cornerstones of the Dayton Agreement,” the minister said.
Text: Hina/MVEP
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