Lajčak for Patria: BiH political leadership must decide on NATO membership unemotionally

Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák speaks to the Patria agency about Slovakia's presidency of the European Union, its priorities, and the expansion of the European Union and BiH's entry into the Union.

Patria: As of July 1, Slovakia will assume the presidency of the European Union. What will your country focus on during its presidency, and what will be your priorities? 

Lajčák: The priorities of our presidency have been well-known for a long time. First and foremost, we will focus our attention mainly on key issues such as economic growth, the digital single market, the establishment of an Energy Union, and, of course, migration. In addition, we are aware that we must also tackle other challenges, including, for example, security risks and discussions about the future shape of the European Union. All of these are matters that will require a certain amount of energy and daily commitment from us so that at the end of our term, we achieve our common goal – for the Maltese presidency to take over a Union that is sufficiently stable, economically progressive, and demonstrates its readiness to effectively respond to global challenges. 

Slovak diplomacy has another priority that deserves special attention. We firmly believe that the European Union project, which is undoubtedly among the most successful endeavors of common European policy, cannot be completed without the accession of all countries that meet the necessary criteria and fulfill their homework. Therefore, we will officially place the EU enlargement process among our key priorities. We are aware that skepticism is growing, especially in the Western Balkan countries, and that more and more people doubt that the endless accession process will ever be successfully completed – therefore, we must place the aspirant countries at the center of our attention and offer them a completely concrete perspective based, of course, on the so-called 'own merits' principle. There is no other understandable alternative to this commitment – if we do not offer potential member states this perspective, the result will certainly be isolation and the strengthening of other, anti-European movements and forces. 

More specifically, previous presidencies have already established a tradition of candidate countries participating in informal meetings of the EU Council. Since we support the view that all Western Balkan countries deserve the aforementioned European perspective, we want to include Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though it is not yet an official candidate country, in similar activities. One such opportunity will be the Tatra Summit conference in October in Bratislava, where all foreign ministers of the Western Balkan countries will participate. 

Patria: The talk about the refugee crisis has subsided somewhat. Will a new plan related to migration be proposed during your presidency, and will you propose stricter measures than before? 

Lajčák: The talk about the refugee crisis has subsided thanks to concrete and specific measures taken by EU member states in cooperation with other relevant countries led by Turkey. The agreement between the European Union and Turkey has successfully halted the long-term flow of migrants along the so-called Balkan route, and we will make every effort and exert all our strength to ensure that this agreement proves sustainable and acceptable to all actors. We now have seven proposals from the European Commission on the table, and we will discuss all of them during our presidency. 

Patria: Both as High Representative in BiH and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, you have always supported BiH on its path to the European Union. Your support, forgive me for stating this, has been merely declarative. What more concrete steps can you take for BiH to fulfill the set conditions as soon as possible?

Lajčák: I disagree with your statement that my support was and is merely declarative. You cannot assess this, as you were not present at the meetings I attended, but that is not the point. Firstly, Bosnia and Herzegovina has its own institutions and bodies that are primarily responsible for the country's development, for making and implementing decisions. Their legitimacy stems from election results, i.e., from the electoral choices of voters. The international community can help in resolving individual problems, in opening new opportunities, and in ensuring a better environment. However, it cannot do the job for you.

You may recall that as High Representative, for example, I initiated an information campaign about the EU, contributed to police reform, and signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement. As for the Slovak Republic, we are continuing, for example, by transferring our experiences from the integration and reform processes. We would gladly see progress on BiH's European path during our presidency of the Council of the EU, but this is linked to fulfilling specific conditions. Your political representatives are in Bratislava almost every week and know exactly what needs to be done to start fulfilling the conditions. One of the most important lessons we had to learn in Slovakia is that this cannot be overcome without friends, but friends cannot help us either if we do not do our homework ourselves first.

Patria: BiH submitted an application for candidate status in the EU on February 15. However, according to warnings from EU leaders, this application is not credible at all. The coordination mechanism has not been agreed upon, the results of the Census are delayed, and the SAA adaptations are pending. What will you specifically do during your EU presidency to ensure that BiH leaders fulfill the set conditions, apart from likely constantly repeating that the conditions must be met and that BiH's European path has no alternative? 

Lajčák: It would be too late to address this issue only during our presidency. That is why I have been in contact with several representatives of BiH in recent weeks. I informed them about the overall situation in the EU and the need to use the existing opportunity for the next step on the path to the EU. I emphasized that this opportunity is diminishing every day and that it is up to you whether and how you will seize it. For me, the conditions you mention are mostly technical and could have been met long ago. 

Patria: It is constantly said that BiH has made progress. However, citizens do not feel this so-called progress at all. Do you see that BiH is truly progressing, or do you, like the citizens of BiH, think that this is about political games by leaders who are merely deceiving the public with their statements? 

Lajčák: I come from a country that has made great progress in a very short period. Therefore, the implementation of reforms in BiH may seem slower to me. However, some of the more important legislative changes have already been adopted, and others are in progress. But the most important thing is that reforms have begun. It is necessary to increase the dynamics of the reform process right from the start so that it does not depend on individual decisions but operates automatically. I am sure that in that case, citizens will also see and feel its results. 

Patria: How do you comment on the statements of politicians from Republika Srpska who do not want BiH to become a member of NATO? How important is membership in the Alliance for a country like BiH, or in your opinion, is it more important for BiH to become a member of NATO first, and then the EU? And what would you say to the leaders from RS regarding their refusal to support BiH's path to NATO? 

Lajčák: I can tell you many reasons why Slovakia joined NATO: from the recognition of sovereignty, through border stabilization, ensuring its own security, to attracting foreign investment. It is up to BiH leaders, if they wish, to respond to the security challenges in their environment. Today's threats differ from those of the past. We are talking about cyber attacks, terrorism, hybrid threats, economic instability, or, for example, the use of electronic means to manipulate public opinion. One of your neighbors is already a member of the NATO alliance, and another will soon become one. Your country's political leadership must decide unemotionally how best to ensure the security and stability of its citizens. 

Patria: You are one of the most serious candidates for the position of UN Secretary-General. Do you expect to be elected? 

Lajčák: Allow me to say that I submitted my nomination with great respect and, above all, responsibility. Respect for the United Nations, which, thanks to daily efforts and endeavors, significantly contributes to achieving a stable and sustainable international political environment, and responsibility towards the government of the Slovak Republic, my people, and of course, the future of the United Nations, which will certainly be the foundation of international diplomacy in the future. I believe, like all other candidates, that all UN member states will thoroughly consider the professional and personal values, prerequisites, and qualifications of each candidate, and will ultimately choose the candidate who best meets their, certainly high, expectations and criteria.