Members of the Joint Collegium of Both Houses of the PABiH Held a Meeting with Members of the Council of the European Union Working Party on the Western Balkans Region

Members of the Joint Collegium of both houses of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH) held a meeting today with a delegation from the Council of the European Union Working Party on the Western Balkans region (COWEB), who are paying an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The main topics of discussion were the dynamics of fulfilling priorities on the European path of our country, the implementation of the Reform Agenda, and the undertaking of reform steps aimed at meeting the requirements for utilising the remaining funds from the European Union (EU) Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

The members of the COWEB delegation, a key body for preparing decisions of the Council of the EU composed of representatives from all EU member states, emphasised the unquestionable and strong commitment of European institutions to the EU path of BiH and the EU enlargement process to the entire Western Balkans region. At the same time, it was emphasised that Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the key partners in preserving the stability and prosperity of the region.

At the meeting, in which the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, also participated, the interlocutors emphasised the importance of adopting the remaining legislative solutions from the package of priorities, as well as appointing the chief negotiator so that Bosnia and Herzegovina could meet the conditions for opening accession negotiations for EU membership.

The members of the Collegium of both houses of the PABiH – Speaker of the House of Peoples of the PABiH Kemal Ademović, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the PABiH Darko Babalj, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr Denis Zvizdić, Delegate Marina Pendeš on behalf of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples Dr Dragan Čović, and MP Predrag Kožul on behalf of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the PABiH Marinko Čavara – informed the COWEB delegation about the current political situation in the country, emphasising the commitment to the European path of BiH and highlighting the importance of dialogue and agreement regarding the passage of reform laws and the fulfilment of conditions for the formal opening of EU membership negotiations for BiH.

The interlocutors agreed that the continuous support of EU institutions, including COWEB, the emphasis on the European perspective of the region, investments in the economy and infrastructure, as well as technical assistance in harmonising legislation, remain crucial for continuing the European path and for the further development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (end)