Members of the Collegium and representatives of the caucuses and delegates of both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH participated in the first EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina High-Level Political Forum

Members of the Collegium and representatives of the caucuses and delegates of both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (PABiH) participated today in Sarajevo in the first EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina High-Level Political Forum, which was jointly organised by the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Borjana Krišto and European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi.

As it was said at the meeting, this new, inclusive dialogue format between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes representatives of all institutions and levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina participating in the European integration process, was proposed after our country received candidate status in December last year, with the aim of determining the priorities, goals and bearers of activities to speed up BiH's European path and fulfilling the key priorities from the Opinion of the European Commission in order for BiH to open negotiations for full membership in the EU.

After the opening speeches of Commissioner Várhelyi and Chairwoman Krišto, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the PABiH, Denis Zvizdić Ph.D., Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Marinko Čavara, Deputy Speakers of the House of Peoples of the PABiH Kemal Ademović and Dragan Čović Ph.D., addressed the meeting participants, and, on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Peoples PABiH Nikola Špirića Ph.D., Chairman of the Club of the Serbian People in the House of Peoples PABiH Sredoje Nović.

The participants of the Forum were also addressed by PABiH House of Peoples delegate Safet Softić, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the Bosniak People's Club, Šefik Džaferović, the Chairman of the SDA Caucus in the House of Representatives of the PABiH Šerif Špago, the Chairwoman of the SNSD Caucus in the House of Representatives Sanja Vulić, Deputy Chairwoman of the Caucus of HDZ BiH, HSS, HKDU BiH, HSP – HNS, HSP DR AS BiH, HDU BiH Darijana Filipović and Chairman of the People and Justice Caucus in the PABiH House of Representatives Nihad Omerović.

The representatives of Republika Srpska, Federation of BiH, cantons and Brčko District of BiH also addressed the participants of the Forum.

Thanking for organisation of the High-Level Political Forum and the engagement of Commissioner Várhelyi and Chairwoman Krišto, the Members of the Collegium and all the representatives of the caucuses and delegates of both houses of the PABiH confirmed their commitment to the European integration process of BiH and highlighted the need  for reaching a consensus and agreement regarding the fulfilment of priorities and the acceleration of Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path through such meetings, while respecting the constitutional structure and the participation of representatives of all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They also emphasised the good momentum of the meeting, and assessed that obtaining candidate status and continuing the process of European integration, along with meeting European standards in the field of the rule of law, the fight against organised crime and corruption and more efficient public administration, as well as the creation of a better business environment for the development of the economy preserves peace, brings the necessary stability and security to Bosnia and Herzegovina and stops the negative trend of young people leaving our country.

At the meeting, which was also attended by the Head of the EU Delegation and the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Johann Sattler, EU officials were asked to continue providing political, economic, and technical support and assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the further process of European integration. A new meeting of the High-Level Political Forum between the EU and BiH will be held in six months in Brussels. (end)