Secretary General of the Council of Europe supports the EU's new approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina

 
Members of the permanent Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (BiH PA) to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE PA) Ismeta Dervoz and Saša Magazinović met today in Strasbourg with the Secretary General of the CoE, Mr Thorbjrøn Jagland, and exchanged views about the reform process in the CoE. Focus was on increased efficiency of the European Court on Human Rights and the decrease of Court decisions related to cases.

During the meeting, a role of the CoEin the EU’s enlargement process was discussed, wherein the CoE expressed its strong support to speed up BiH’s accession into the EU.
Special attention was paid to the topic “The EU’s new approach to BiH’’, aiming to accelerate the EU accession process for BiH. As noted, this implies partnership work between BiH and the EU on economic and social reform, including insistence on the rule of law and the combatting against crime and corruption.

Secretary General Jagland supported the EU’s new approach to BiH, and stressed that he agrees with interlocutors in that the new approach does not necessarily mean negligence of implementing the ruling delivered the Sejdic-Finci case; but rather, opening of multi-lateral processes. Once again, the Secretary General highlighted the full commitment of the CoE to co-operate with BiH in all fields. He further assessed the relationship between the CoE and BiH – the latter a full-fledged member of the former— as sincere and friendly.

Mr Jagland will run again for the position of Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

At a separate meeting, members of the BiH PA permanent Delegation to the CoE PA – Milica Marković, Ismeta Dervoz, Senad Šepić and Saša Magazinović – talked with Ms Sabina Leutheusser – Schnarrenberger from Germany, who will also run for Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The BiH Ambassador to the Council of Europe, Mr Almir Šahović attended the bilateral meetings.
Members of the BiH PA permanent Delegation to the CoE PA will participate in the CoE PA ordinary spring session from 7 to 11 April 2014 in Strasbourg. (end)