The PABiH delegation participated in the 10th plenary session of the South-East European Co-operation Process Parliamentary Assembly

Members of the Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH) to the South-East European Co-operation Process Parliamentary Assembly (SEECP PA) Ilija Cvitanović, Nermin Mandra, Mladen Bosić, Zlatan Begić and Džemal Smajić participated in the 10^th plenary session of the SEECP PA in Budva, which, under the Montenegrin presidency, marked the decade of existence and session of the parliamentary dimension of this regional initiative.

In his address to the participants of the session on the topic "10 years of SEECP PA. Next decade for better integration and tangible EU perspective of the SEECP region. Together in SEECP – Together in EU”, member of PABiH Delegation Ilija Cvitanović thanked the hosts for the fact that they put the European perspective of the countries of the region that have not yet become EU members into the focus of the presidency, emphasising that this topic is extremely important for BiH, especially after that our country was granted candidate status in December last year.

Noting that the vision of the full integration of the countries and societies of the region in the EU has no alternative, Cvitanović emphasised that SEECP PA has rightfully focused on the infrastructural and economic connectivity of the countries of Southeast Europe in the past five years. Cvitanović said that the governments and parliaments of the countries of the region should continue to support the process of regional cooperation, and in this regard added that the SEECP PA has a unique opportunity and role to be a platform for the exchange of opinions and good practices, as well as for strengthening the parliamentary dimension of regional cooperation.

Cvitanović said that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted and slowed global economic growth, raised inflation and the cost of living through increased food and energy prices. In this regard, he called on SEECP member countries for stronger co-operation in facing these challenges, emphasising the role of national parliaments in shaping and approving national reforms and regional agreements.

The participants of the session adopted also the Declaration confirming the key role of SEECP PA in strengthening stability and prosperity in Southeast Europe. The Declaration emphasises full determination towards the European integration of the entire region, which, as it is emphasised, will be the main goal of the SEECP PA in the next decade. The declaration encourages SEECP member states, which are also EU members, to continue to act as the main promoters of the enlargement process for all candidates for EU membership and calls on all EU members to take further steps to advance the accession process, make it more efficient, predictable and credible.

As stated in the Declaration, SEECP PA will also form an ad hoc working body for European integration issues with the aim of accelerating the European path and exchanging good practices in the European integration process of the countries of the region that are candidates for full EU membership. (end)