The Chairperson of the BiH Presidency Željka Cvijanović and members of the BiH Presidency Željko Komšić and Dr. Denis Bećirović expressed their contentment with the visit of the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi.
They thanked Commissioner Várhelyi for his personal engagement and efforts for BiH, and emphasized the expectation that BiH would be granted candidate status at the European Council meeting in December this year.
Members of the BiH Presidency pointed out that the European Commission’s recommendation for granting candidate status to our country was a strong incentive for authorities in BiH to work more intensively on continuing the implementation of the necessary reforms, and encouragement for citizens that a European perspective was possible. They emphasized that everyone in BiH was aware of the complexity of the accession process and the reforms needed to be undertaken on the way to the European Union, as well as the pace of progress so far.
The members of the BiH Presidency said that the willingness of the European Commission to help in the implementation of the necessary reforms was also of great importance, and that it was a welcome instrument that would help BiH authorities to facilitate this extensive work.
All the reforms we are carrying out and will carry out on the European path are not only technical conditions for progress on the EU road, but we also understand them as instruments that will enable the citizens of BiH to have a better life. In doing so, we count on the support of the European Union and are ready to be its credible partner, the members of the BiH Presidency pointed out.
The Commissioner Várhelyi emphasized that BiH and its citizens deserved to be granted candidate status. The European Union, said the EU Commissioner, expects the legislative and executive authorities at all levels to be formed quickly, in order to start implementing reforms as soon as possible. The European Commission, said Commissioner Várhelyi, would continue to monitor the implementation of key priorities, which must be met, in order to open negotiations with the EU. He expressed the expectation that the parliamentary procedure would soon include laws on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, the Law on Courts and the Law on Prevention of Conflicts of Interest. The Commissioner Várhelyi also said that the EU would help BiH to implement all the necessary reforms faster.
