Presidency of BiH today on recognition of Kosovo, relocation of BiH Embassy, 'mini Schengen'

(Patria) - A regular and two extraordinary sessions of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held tomorrow, September 17, according to the prior agreement of the members of the Presidency of BiH.

The Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Šefik Džaferović, confirmed last week that six topics will be considered at the regular session, concerning the new coronavirus pandemic, BiH's path to the European Union, the implementation of NATO reforms, illegal migrations and human trafficking, and one of the topics will be the initiative on the stance for "mini Schengen".

Regarding mini Schengen, this initiative could receive the support of the Presidency of BiH because it brings benefits to the overall economy of BiH.

Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia are part of this initiative, and the plan is for BiH, Montenegro, and Kosovo to join, which would cover about 18 million inhabitants with a single market.

While entrepreneurs who are export-oriented support BiH's accession to mini Schengen, some economists are cautious because they believe that in times of migration and organized crime, opening borders and free movement of people can also cause damage.

In an economic sense, mini Schengen would enable the signatory countries easier procedures for the transport of goods and people, recognition of diplomas, and free movement of labor.

After this session, two extraordinary sessions should follow, one requested by the member of the Presidency of BiH and leader of SNSD, Milorad Dodik, on the relocation of the BiH Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the second extraordinary session was convened at the request of the member of the Presidency of BiH and leader of the Democratic Front (DF), Željko Komšić, at which the issue of recognizing Kosovo would be considered.