Costa in Sarajevo: You are a few steps away from opening negotiations, it is up to your authorities to speed up the fulfilment of EU membership conditions

(Patria) - The first man of the European Council, Antonio Costa, spoke today in Sarajevo with the members of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović, Željka Cvijanović and Željko Komšić.

https://nap.ba/post/komsic-nakon-sastanka-s-costom-ako-je-vladavina-prava-temelj-eu-onda-mora-vrijediti-i-za-bih

Komšić nakon sastanka s Costom: Ako je vladavina prava temelj EU, onda mora vrijediti i za BiH

Članovi Predsjedništva BiH Denis Bećirović, Željka Cvijanović i Željko Komšić primili su danas u Sarajevu predsjednika Evropskog vijeća Antonija Costu.

In his address to the Bosnian-Herzegovinian public after the meeting, Costa clearly stated that it is up to the BiH authorities to decide whether to speed up the fulfilment of conditions for progress towards European Union membership.

He emphasised that our country is only a few steps away from opening accession negotiations, and assessed that now is the right time for its authorities to focus on reform processes and intensify their implementation.

According to his words, although the path to the European Union is demanding, concrete results can be achieved relatively quickly through alignment with EU legislation.

He appealed to BiH institutions to adopt the remaining two laws in the area of judiciary and appoint a chief negotiator. And that, he added, is key for the further progress of BiH on its European path.

Costa also stated that it is urgently necessary to start implementing the reform agenda, which would enable the activation of funds from the Reform and Growth Instrument, improve economic approximation to the EU and contribute to improving the living standard of citizens.

He appealed to BiH politicians not to miss this opportunity for their citizens.

He also emphasises that EU membership is a sovereign decision of BiH that entails much more than access to the single market, including belonging to a political union based on common strategic priorities.

Speaking in the context of current geopolitical and economic challenges, he stated that the enlargement process is not only an opportunity, but also a geostrategic interest of Europe.

As for the enlargement process itself, he said that it represents an investment in peace, stability and security on the European continent.

Costa announced the upcoming summit of the European Union and the Western Balkans, which will be held in Tivat at the end of the week, stressing that this event will be a confirmation of the EU's commitment to deepening cooperation and continuing the enlargement policy.

Regarding the role of the international community, he assessed it as important that the new High Representative be appointed by the Steering Board (SB) of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), and that this decision reflects the European aspirations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Costa also emphasised that our country has made significant progress since 1995, with the message that the EU will continue to cooperate with domestic institutions in building a common European future.