Krišto wrote to Michel: I regret that BiH did not receive deserved support

(Patria) - Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH Borjana Krišto sent a letter today to President of the European Council Charles Michel and all members of the European Council regarding the European Council meeting held yesterday, which discussed Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Moldova in terms of opening negotiations, and Georgia in terms of acquiring candidate status.

In her letter to the European Council, Chairperson Krišto stated that she regrets that Bosnia and Herzegovina did not receive the much-needed support, which is considered deserved by everyone in our country, for opening negotiations with the EU. She emphasized that everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina gave their maximum – which, unfortunately, is not recognized by the European Union at this moment in the way we all within Bosnia and Herzegovina expected.

She reminded all members of the European Council of the significant steps our country has taken in 2023. She highlighted that Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the first time in history, had 100% alignment with the EU's foreign and security policy.

“I was personally fully convinced that this exceptional work of Bosnia and Herzegovina's institutions in 2023 would be rewarded at yesterday's European Council session and that you would give all of us in BiH the much-desired support for opening negotiations, and that you would clearly and strongly link BiH to the EU at this geopolitical moment. I sincerely hope that this unexpected setback will not have major consequences on the work of the coalition of parties within Bosnia and Herzegovina, both at the state level and at all levels of government, and that we will have the opportunity to continue working with the same efficiency in delivering necessary reforms,” emphasized Chairperson Krišto.

In support of this, she stated that just this current week, the Council of Ministers of BiH adopted two very significant documents – the Draft Basis for the Conclusion of the Cooperation Agreement with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), with a proposal for a negotiation delegation, and the Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities. She pointed out that as many as 10 draft laws were adopted by the Council of Ministers of BiH during 2023. Furthermore, this convocation of the Council of Ministers held 51 sessions in less than 12 months of work and adopted over 1,400 documents. From this statistic alone, it is clear that, thanks to the dedicated work of the Council of Ministers of BiH, exceptional progress, never before achieved, has been made within absolutely every one of the 14 key priorities of BiH.

Despite the fact that our country did not receive a date for opening negotiations, Chairperson Krišto stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to work strongly on its reform path towards final accession to the European family, where it belongs.

“What I can promise you is that I, personally, as the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, will continue to work at the same tireless pace, aware that all necessary reforms are needed by us in BiH for our own sake. I am sure that we will all continue to pursue good policies based on constant dialogue among the legitimate political representatives of the constituent peoples, sincere agreements, compromises, and consensus,” said Krišto.