Delegation of the PABiH House of Representatives participate at the High Level Round Table on the European Integration Process of the Western Balkans in a Regional Perspective in Brussels

The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH), Borjana Krišto, and her Deputy Speakers, Mladen Bosić and Šefik Džaferović, as well as a member of the House of Representatives, Aleksandra Pandurević, participated in the High-Level Round Table on the European Integration Process of the Western Balkans in a Regional Perspective.

In addition to the delegation of BiH, the meeting in Brussels was attended by members of the European Parliament, members of the parliaments of the countries in the pre-accession process and members of the parliaments of the member states of the European Union (EU). The two-day event was organized by the Coordination Group for Democracy and Election Support (DEG) in cooperation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament (EP), the EP Human Rights Subcommittee and the EP Delegations for relations with the countries of the Western Balkans.

On the second day of the Round Table, a joint meeting was held with the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by David McAllister, which was focused on the mid-term review of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), and the alignment of funding with political priorities. On this occasion, it was said that IPA funds are of great importance for the development of the region of the Western Balkans, and that in the future, in addition to control over spending, an evaluation of the benefits from invested funds will also be required.

The central part of the Round Table was dedicated to the views of the Western Balkans countries on the European integration process and perspectives. In his opening statement, Christian Danielsson, Director-General of the Directorate for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, stated that the Western Balkans have a European perspective, and that this region needs reconciliation and stability. It was also emphasized that the economic reform is required as well as the good functioning of democratic institutions. In addition to Danielsson, other participants of the Round Table also expressed support for the aspirations of the Western Balkan countries for EU membership.

The Speaker of the PABiH House of Representatives, Borjana Krišto, addressed the participants of the Round Table, who said that organising a round table on this topic is a sign that the EU countries see this region within their borders. Krišto expressed the belief that answering the Questionnaire of the European Commission will be completed by the end of the current year, and once again expressed BiH's joint stance on EU membership. In her address, Speaker Krišto stressed the need to amend the Election Law of BiH, which should ensure legitimate representation and fulfilment of the judgments of the Constitutional Court of BiH. At the end of her address, Speaker Krišto pointed to the need for good relations with neighbours, as well as to the fact that diplomacy and political agreement are the only way in settling all issues. (End)