BiH Presidency members optimistic after meeting in Brussels

(Patria) - This visit of the Presidency members to Brussels is a real encouragement, said BiH Presidency member Željko Komšić after meetings with Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

"We discussed the formation of government, topics about other tasks. We will see what happens at the next meetings with members of the European Commission and the European Union, and then we will make a complete judgment," Komšić said, as reported by N1.

BiH Presidency members are in Brussels today and tomorrow, where they will discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina's perspective and the country's European path with EU leaders.

The Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Milorad Dodik, assessed the meeting as good and successful, "regardless of the complete situation in BiH".

"The consensus is the European path. We are late with the questionnaire, procedures, but it was an opportunity to inform that everything has been agreed upon regarding the answers, that only translations remain and that it will be completed in 20-30 days. The EU Parliament will adopt an opinion on BiH - which will close the procedure for possible candidate status," Dodik announced.

He said that BiH will try to achieve candidate status by November 1, but also that topics concerning the formation of government in BiH could be heard at the meeting.

Dodik told reporters after the meeting that it is a shame for BiH if the government bodies are not constituted quickly, "because it is not enough to just go to the elections and not form the government afterwards."

"Then you come to a situation where elections don't make sense and the people have been misled," Dodik said, as reported by RTRS. During today's meeting, there was no discussion about Bosnia and Herzegovina's NATO path.

 

 

BiH Presidency member Šefik Džaferović told N1 television that for him it is "impressive" that the European Union is determined to institutionally connect with the Western Balkan countries, adding:

"This year and the mandate of the European Commission will be used until November 1 for countries to make a step towards the European Union. There is no doubt that the European Commission wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to gain candidate status by November 1 at the latest this year," Džaferović said.

BHRT reports that Komšić said it would be good and wise, not only for BiH citizens but perhaps also for EU countries, for BiH to gain candidate status for the EU.

Dodik, Komšić, and Džaferović will meet tomorrow with Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn. On the same day, the Presidency members will also have a meeting with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.

A dinner organized by the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Lars Gunner Wigemark, for the Presidency members is also planned for Tuesday evening in Brussels.

This is the first official visit of the BiH Presidency after its constitution, following the October elections.

The BiH Presidency announced that High Representative Mogherini emphasized her support for BiH on its European path. "She said that BiH authorities should urgently seek solutions to current issues in BiH: the process of forming government at all levels, responding to additional questions from the EC Questionnaire, electoral law reform, and socio-economic reforms. She supported the members of the BiH Presidency to be engaged in seeking compromises on current problems, and expressed hope that the mandate will end with positive news for Bosnia and Herzegovina," the Presidency announced.