Košarac and Sattler on political and economic topics

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Staša Košarac received today in Sarajevo the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH Johann Sattler, with whom he discussed the political and economic situation in BiH, as well as the necessary reforms in the EU integration process.

Košarac expressed commitment to active work on reforms and activities that will accelerate the path towards the EU, which is the main foreign policy goal of BiH. He pointed out the importance of the coordination mechanism in this process, and stated that he will affirm cooperation of the competent entity ministries and institutions of Brčko District, with the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH.

The meeting also discussed the harmonization of BiH legislation with EU norms and standards, especially in the areas of agriculture and energy. Special focus was placed on the accelerated alignment of strategic documents so that farmers from BiH can use available EU funds. The possibility of expanding the capacity of border crossings in BiH was also discussed, as well as the need to integrate certain border crossings with neighboring countries.

Also discussed were the conditions that BiH needs to fulfill in order to become a member of the World Trade Organization, which Minister Košarac highlighted as one of the priorities in his work. The interlocutors also touched upon the one-year presidency of CEFTA, which BiH recently took over from Albania. Minister Košarac said that one of the priorities will be strengthening structures and concluding an additional protocol for dispute resolution in CEFTA.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on environmental issues, which are at the top of the priorities of the European Commission. In this context, Košarac informed Sattler about the activities that, in cooperation with the competent entity ministries and
other competent institutions, he is undertaking to prevent the construction of a landfill for nuclear and radioactive waste at the Trgovska Gora site.