Deputy Chairs of the PABiH Delegation to the SEECP PA Mladen Bosić and Džemal Smajić Participated in Meetings of the Standing Committee and the General Committee on Economy, Infrastructure and Energy in Sofia

Deputy Chairs of the Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH) to the South-East European Cooperation Process Parliamentary Assembly (SEECP PA) Mladen Bosić and Džemal Smajić participated today in Sofia in meetings of the Standing Committee and the SEECP PA General Committee on Economy, Infrastructure and Energy.

At the meetings, which were held under the organisation of the Bulgarian Presidency of this regional initiative, the participants exchanged views on the topic "Strengthening the role of the Presidency/Troika to ensure continuity in the work of the Chairperson-in-Office and monitoring the implementation of SEECP PA decisions". The discussions also focused on the regional dimension of policies for start-up programmes, research and development, and innovation in South-East Europe.

In his address to the session of the SEECP PA Standing Committee, Deputy Chair of the PABiH Delegation Džemal Smajić assessed that the meetings in Sofia hold a special significance, given that the SEECP is marking the 30th anniversary of its existence and work. In this regard, Smajić emphasised that this regional initiative represents an authentic and influential voice of the region, confirming the maturity of the member states and their shared aspiration towards European integration.

Emphasising that Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to the principles of the SEECP, Smajić stated that regional stability is not merely a political phrase, but a prerequisite for economic development and retaining young people in the countries of the region. He supported strengthening the role of the Presidency, which would consist of the past, current, and future Chairs of the SEECP PA, and expressed confidence that regular consultations between plenary sessions would contribute significantly to the visibility and efficiency of our work. "By doing so, we would send a clear message to the European Union that South-East Europe possesses the capacity to manage processes independently and resolve open issues through dialogue," stated Smajić.

Deputy Chair of the PABiH Delegation Mladen Bosić addressed the session of the SEECP PA General Committee on Economy, Infrastructure and Energy. He pointed out that we live in a rapidly changing world, both politically and economically, and that states must invest efforts to avoid being the losers in this process. Therefore, Bosić said, it is highly important to assist the economy to survive and to help start-ups master new technologies brought by the era of artificial intelligence. In this regard, the regional cooperation facilitated by the SEECP is particularly significant, concluded Bosić.

During the Committee session, attention was also drawn to the fact that economic cooperation in the region is regressing in some areas, with a specific example being the problem regarding the stay of professional drivers from South-East European countries in European Union countries. An appeal was made to the SEECP member states that are also members of the European Union to help in resolving this important problem.

Bosić and Smajić also participated in Sofia in an international forum on the topic "Regulatory Framework for Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for Economic Growth in South-East Europe", which was organised jointly by the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation in South-East Europe (RSPC SEE) and the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. In addition to representatives of the parliaments of the SEECP PA member states, the forum was attended by prominent experts, as well as representatives of the academic community and business sector, who discussed issues of digital transformation, the challenges of artificial intelligence, and potential legislative and regulatory frameworks in this area. (end)