Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, Darijana Filipović, and the Deputy Chair, Sabina Ćudić, met with the representative of the National Council of Austria

The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH), Darijana Filipović, and the Deputy Chair of the Committee, Sabina Ćudić, spoke today in Sarajevo with the representative of the National Council of Austria, Dr Helmut Brandstätter, who is on a multi-day visit to our country with his associates.

As a member of the opposition NEOS in the Austrian Parliament, Dr Brandstätter conveyed the view that all members of the state Parliament of that friendly country share common views and provide full support for the process of integration of BiH and all countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union. In this regard, he called for dialogue and compromise in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as for strengthening the political and economic co-operation of all the countries in the region.

Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the PABiH emphasised that, after the General Elections and the formation of the BiH Council of Ministers, there is a positive atmosphere in BiH, particularly since the country was granted candidate status in December of the previous year. This decision of the European Union’s institutions requires new BiH’s energy and commitment on the way to EU membership, it was said at the meeting. Strong determination of all BiH officials to make significant progress in the process of European integration was highlighted.

Filipović and Ćudić briefed the guest from Austria about the results of the recent visit of the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, as well as the fact that the BiH Council of Ministers is already working on the adoption of strategies, programmes and laws to fulfil the key priorities outlined in the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's membership application to the European Union.

The possibilities of strengthening regional cooperation were also discussed during the meeting, both on the political and economic level, as well as different positions in BiH regarding the need to follow the foreign policy positions of the European Union, and regional initiatives. The importance of establishing internal dialogue and agreement on the foreign policy of BiH was emphasized, with a shared view that a clear European perspective and EU membership could be the solution to many contentious issues and problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (end)