Mogherini says referendum in RS is unnecessary and harmful

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić spoke today in Brussels with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini about the progress Bosnia and Herzegovina has made in the European integration process. Zvizdić said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is strongly committed to EU integration and emphasized that EU membership is the main foreign policy priority and strategic goal of BiH.

He said that BiH has fulfilled the last condition on that path by adopting the finalized text of the coordination mechanism. He also informed the High Representative about the level of implementation of the Reform Agenda, through which Bosnia and Herzegovina is functionally moving closer to the EU. The second condition regarding the SAA has also been fulfilled, and the Presidency of BiH awaits ratification by the European Union member states. He expressed confidence that BiH will complete its obligations so that BiH can obtain candidate status in 2017. He noted that progress has also been made on the NATO path, and this is one of the key messages contributing to the security of BiH and the region.

High Representative Mogherini praised the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina in fulfilling the conditions for placing BiH's application for EU membership on the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Council of the European Union for General Affairs.

Mogherini congratulated the achieved results and said that Bosnia and Herzegovina has support for continuing an even more active European path. She emphasized that visible progress has been made in implementing the tasks BiH received from the European Union and that in the coming period, even stronger cooperation among the Western Balkan countries is necessary, both in strengthening security and in combating terrorism and all forms of extremism. She stressed the need to maintain continuity of positive activities.

Speaking about the announced referendum in the entity of Republika Srpska, Chairman Zvizdić and High Representative Mogherini agreed that the referendum is unnecessary and harmful and that the coming period should be dedicated to the economic development of the country.

Chairman Zvizdić thanked for the support and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European integration process and expressed confidence that the great progress BiH has made will be recognized on September 20, when the Council will adopt a Conclusion on forwarding BiH's application to the European Commission with an invitation to prepare an Opinion on BiH's membership application.