Wigemark and Fajon: It's a Bad Message That the HDZ BiH Caucus Is Not Attending the Session on the European Path

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Tanja Fajon, European Parliament member, is visiting BiH where she is attending the thematic session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH "Challenges and Perspectives of the Federation of BiH on the European Path", and before the session a meeting was held with the leadership of both houses of the Parliament of FBiH. Members of the HDZ BiH-HNS Caucus are not attending today's session. 

Fajon stated that she had a sincere conversation with the hosts, who informed her about the atmosphere in BiH.

- Just today, foreign ministers are discussing enlargement for the Western Balkans. Some progress has been made on the reform agenda, but BiH perhaps entered the pre-election campaign too quickly and lost valuable time. I hope that until the elections, BiH will still continue working on the EC Questionnaire and some important laws. Without cooperation and dialogue, it is difficult to move forward. I am convinced that the only solution for BiH is the EU, and we need BiH, and I hope that the dialogue between the authorities in BiH and the EC will continue faster and with more motivation - said Fajon, emphasizing that she will continue to advocate for BiH in Brussels. 

She commented on the absence of representatives from the HDZ BiH-HNS Caucus by saying that all representatives should have been at this session because it concerns the European future of BiH, but that she does not want to enter into any political debate or other people's emotions. 

Head of the EU Delegation, Lars Gunnar Wigemark, said that this is not a good message because political actors in BiH reached a consensus at the beginning of their mandate regarding the European path of BiH. 

- We had the opportunity to see how certain issues affect the context of European integration.

Wigemark emphasized that work should be done on building consensus both in BiH and in the EU.

- For BiH at this moment, it is important not to lose momentum, i.e., progress in the European integration process. We are all aware that the election cycle is ongoing, but it is important what will be done both before and after the elections themselves - said Wigemark. 

Mladen Bošković, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH, said that representatives of HDZ BiH-HNS are not attending today's session due to "overruling at the previous session".  

- The HDZ BiH HNS Caucus will not attend this thematic session today, not because Croats are not committed to the EU and NATO, but because they want to send a message about the overruling that occurred at the last session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH, when the law on electoral units was adopted without a single vote from a Croat, and what follows - said Bošković. 

He emphasized that this is a message against the overruling of Croats in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH.