During the study visit to Brussels, the PA BiH delegation held a series of meetings with members of the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission

The delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PA BiH), consisting of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples, Dr. Dragan Čović, as well as representatives of the House of Representatives and delegates of the House of Peoples, spoke today with Member of the European Parliament and co-chairman of the Democracy Support and Election Observation Group (DEG) Barry Andrews and Member of the European Parliament Gordan Bosanac. It was an opportunity to exchange opinions about Bosnia and Herzegovina's path towards the European Union (EU), as well as about the challenges and opportunities that our country faces on that path.

These topics also dominated during the meeting of the PA BiH delegation with members of the European Parliament Željana Zovko and Vladimir Prebilič, who spoke about the role of the parliament in the EU accession process.

In an incredibly open dialogue, PA BiH members presented different views of the current moment in which Bosnia and Herzegovina finds itself. Nevertheless, it was jointly emphasized that there is a consensus of all political actors in BiH for BiH's path to the EU, regardless of the current stall in the implementation of reforms. During the meeting, opinions could be heard that there is not enough dialogue between the executive and legislative authorities in BiH and that it is necessary for all actors in the country to make additional efforts to overcome this situation.

Restoring the focus on European integration is the best guarantee for getting out of the current crisis, which was judged to be the biggest since the signing of the Dayton Agreement, it was concluded during the discussions. In this process, as assessed, the role of the parliament as the highest legislative body in reaching consensus in the reform process is crucial. During the meetings, it was also said that there is a certain fatigue among public opinion, because public support has a declining trend. The reason for this, as it was said, is that the process in which BiH is in has been going on, through various stages, for twenty years, and in order to restore the trust of the citizens, it is necessary to take concrete steps in order to unfreeze the process and proceed with the implementation of the remaining reforms.

The representatives of the European Parliament once again emphasized their support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, its progress and the development of democratic institutions, at the same time expressing respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Regardless of the objective deadlock on the European path, moderate optimism was highlighted today that in the coming period BiH can make additional efforts to adopt the remaining obligations, finally adopt two laws, and appoint a negotiator and a national coordinator. One of the proposals that is supported today is the idea of ​​organizing this kind of round table in PA BiH, where the agenda should be to find solutions to these open questions.  

In the continuation of the visit, PA BiH members will participate in a panel presentation: "How to build a consensus in the European Parliament" and a discussion about the role of reporters, political groups and shadow reporters.

Yesterday, a meeting was held with the representative of the EU Council, the Directorate for Enlargement and Europe, Anders Kjellgren, and the representative of the European Commission - General Directorate for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, Heinke Veit, who emphasized that the EU door is open for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but that it is up to BiH to take concrete steps. In the talks, it was pointed out that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country that has not submitted a reform agenda, and it was emphasized that it is up to local politicians to do so as soon as possible for the benefit of all citizens of BiH.

The PA BiH delegation, except for the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples, Dr. Dragan Čović, was composed of MPs in the House of Representatives of the PA BiH Milan Dunović, Šerif Špago, Nenad Grković, Jasmin Emrić, Rejhana Dervišević, Darijana Filipović and delegates in the House of Peoples of the PA BiH Zdenko Ćosić, Dženan Đonlagić, Radovan Kovačević, Džemal Smajić, Nenad Vuković and Safet Softić. (end)