Conclusions on BiH adopted: establish authorities at all levels as soon as possible

The EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed on a new approach towards BiH on its path to EU membership. Today, conclusions were also adopted highlighting the territorial integrity and sovereignty and the unity of the state of BiH, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

The Council also welcomed the Growth and Employment Programme presented on 18 July 2014. One of the conditions that BiH must fulfill on its path to the EU is the ruling in the case „Sejdić and Finci“.

- Ministers today welcomed the recent visit of European officials, European Commission Vice President Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn to BiH, and the two were invited to continue their engagement in BiH. As stated in the conclusions, an irreversible written commitment should be achieved, signed by BiH leaders, to implement the necessary reforms within the framework of the EU accession process.

- The Council today accepted the initiative of Germany and the United Kingdom as an EU initiative, and will task EU bodies and institutions with its implementation.

BiH political leaders were again called upon to establish the reforms necessary for European integration.

The Council tasked Mogherini and Hahn with regularly reporting to the Council on progress in BiH, particularly based on the written commitment of BiH leaders to implement reforms and how they are being implemented in the competent bodies in BiH.

- Once the written commitment is agreed upon in the BiH Presidency, signed by political leaders and supported in the BiH Parliament, the Council will decide on the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).
 
Also, BiH leaders and parties were called upon to form authorities at all levels as soon as possible.