MEETING OF THE CROATIAN GOVERNMENT CONCLUDED: Strong support for the European and reform path of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Croatian Government issued a press release this evening following the meeting between Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the leaders of HDZ BiH Dragan Čović and SDA Bakir Izetbegović.

The press release stated: 

This continues the regular dialogue between the Prime Minister of the Croatian Government and the political representatives of the three constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the political and economic relations between Croatia and BiH.

Croatia's firm support for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path was emphasized. For Croatia, as a neighboring and friendly country, the well-being, stability, and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina are of utmost importance. Prime Minister Plenković particularly emphasized the importance of achieving equal rights for all three constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as their legitimate representation in the institutions of BiH.

As Croatia has already shown by organizing the Zagreb Summit in May 2020, which focused on the EU enlargement process and the European perspective of Southeast Europe, Plenković reiterated that Croatia is ready to help Bosnia and Herzegovina in reforms and in meeting the criteria necessary to gain candidate status for accession to the European Union.

The signing of the agreement on amendments to the Election Law and the holding of elections in the City of Mostar was welcomed, which opened up space for further normalization and qualitative improvement of Bosniak-Croat relations.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton-Paris Peace Agreement, the meeting was an opportunity to summarize its achievements, as well as to discuss the removal of remaining obstacles hindering BiH's progress on its path to the EU.

The meeting also addressed the situation in the neighborhood, economic cooperation, investments, joint cross-border projects, given that BiH is Croatia's sixth-largest trading partner, as well as further infrastructural connectivity between the two countries.