Members of both Houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH spoke with a member of the National Council of the Republic of Austria

Members of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH) Nihad Omerović, on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr Denis Zvizdić, and Miroslav Vujičić, on behalf of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nebojša Radmanović, and delegates in the House of Peoples of PABiH Sredoje Nović, on behalf of the Speaker of the House of Peoples, Dr Nikola Špirić, and Marina Pendeš, on behalf of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples Dr Dragan Čović, spoke today in Sarajevo with the representative of the National Council of the Republic of Austria, Dr Helmut Brandstätter.

The Austrian delegate, Mr. Brandstätter, welcomed the decision to grant candidate status to BiH and fully supported the Austrian government's position that all EU Member States should take more decisive steps towards the admission of BiH and other countries in the Western Balkans to the EU. He reiterated the stance of leading European officials that the EU will not be complete until the entire Western Balkans region is included. He was also interested in BiH's future steps in the process of European integration and possible additional support from Austria, especially in the economic field.

The representatives and delegates of both Houses of the PABiH cordially thanked the guest from Austria for the political and economic support that friendly country provided and continues to provide to BiH, especially to the European path of our country. The hosts highlighted the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the largest surplus in foreign trade with Austria and that Austria is the largest investor in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the banking sector, production, and investments in small and medium-sized enterprises. They invited the guest from Austria to an additional engagement of parliamentarians from both countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, in order to continue with permanent and systemic investments in BiH, stressing that by implementing economic reforms and improving citizens' standards, it will be easier in BiH to address all other disputed issues and political problems.

Representatives and delegates of both chambers of the PABiH informed the guest from Austria about the current political situation in BiH, and the fact that, after the General Elections in October last year, the government was quickly formed at all levels in BiH. They pointed out that the new government should make additional efforts to establish full trust and reconciliation, and to open an honest internal dialogue on all issues important for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They said that the new approach and concept, advocated by the current authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, implies focusing on solving those issues on which there is a consensus.

Emphasizing that the European integration process is an issue on which everyone agrees, they pointed out that it is necessary to work on establishing the full rule of law and on strengthening the judicial system, which should be independent of political influence, professional and capable of fighting corruption, in which, they said, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to make a significant step forward in the process of European integration.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Ulrike Hartmann. (end)