Ivanić and Zvizdić meet with MEPs in Brussels

The BiH delegation, led by BiH Presidency Chairman Mladen Ivanić and Prime Minister Denis Zvizdić, met today in Brussels with the Group of Friends of BiH in the European Parliament, informing them about the internal political situation in BiH and the situation in the region.

In his address to the European parliamentarians, Ivanić expressed satisfaction with the fact that the European Union is seriously committed to BiH for the first time, and that this is no longer just a formal statement.

The BiH Presidency Chairman emphasized that BiH needs Europe, as it is not good for us to be isolated.

- In the event that BiH remains isolated, three opposing concepts will become even more pronounced. In that case, such an isolated BiH would not be attractive to investors either - said Chairman Ivanić.

He explained that BiH must work on changing its image and that any progress is impossible without fulfilling the basic prerequisite – willingness to compromise.

Chairman Ivanić also stated that the current BiH Presidency could have done much more in this and other areas.

Chairman Ivanić stressed that two major positive developments are possible in the coming period – BiH obtaining candidate status for the EU and the activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP), but without discussing NATO membership.

Given that there is no consensus on this issue within BiH, the BiH Presidency Chairman said that other generations of politicians will deal with this matter.

Speaking about the situation in the region, the BiH Presidency Chairman said that the overall atmosphere is not satisfactory.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Denis Zvizdić, informed the European parliamentarians about the activities of the executive authorities in the area of European and NATO integration, emphasizing that the past year has been the most successful for BiH in its European integration efforts.

The BiH Presidency Chairman, Dr. Mladen Ivanić, also met today with the European Parliament's rapporteur for BiH, Cristian Dan Preda. Chairman Ivanić informed Mr. Dan Preda about the current political situation in BiH and the preparations for answering the European Commission's Questionnaire.

The interlocutors expressed hope that, to mutual satisfaction, BiH will accelerate its European path, with a special emphasis on the process of obtaining candidate status.

The BiH Presidency Chairman, Mladen Ivanić, continues his working visit to Brussels. A meeting with the President of the European People's Party, Joseph Daul, is planned for this evening.

Tomorrow, Chairman Ivanić will participate in an extended summit of the European People's Party. During the day, Chairman Ivanić will meet with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, Didier Reynders, and a meeting with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, and the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, is planned on the sidelines of the summit.