MINISTER KOŠARAC SENDS TO BORELL REQUEST FOR MORE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT OF COMPETENT EU INSTITUTIONS IN PREVENTING CONSTRUCTION OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE LANDFILL AT TRGOVSKA GORA

SARAJEVO, MAY 4 (ONASA) – The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac, today sent a request to the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Jozep Borelj, for more active engagement of the competent EU institutions in activities to prevent the construction of radioactive waste disposal sites. waste and spent nuclear fuel on Trgovska Gora.
He recalled that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina had on several occasions asked for the support of the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina on this matter, but that such efforts did not yield positive results due to the indolent attitude of the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which caused the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to lose confidence in European Union.
“The declarative support of the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not enough for us. We are not satisfied with her relationship, because she did not prove herself as a partner and did not provide us with concrete and direct contact with the competent authorities in the EU. Therefore, we are turning to you in Brussels with the request to hold a meeting as soon as possible at the headquarters of the competent EU institutions on the issue in question,” emphasized Minister Košarac in a letter to High Representative Borelj.
He pointed out that there is a unified position in BiH regarding the unacceptability of Croatia’s intention to build a disputed landfill on the border itself, and expressed concern about the significant cross-border impact and far-reaching consequences for people’s health, the environment, the economy and tourism in this area.
“We expect you to approach this problem as you would if it were a dispute between two European Union member states,” said Minister Košarac.
He emphasized that Croatia, as an EU member state, has an obligation to comply with European regulations and standards, but that this is not the case with regard to the issue of the construction of a landfill on Trgovska Gora, since this country violates international conventions and agreements.
“An example of such non-compliance with EU regulations is the distance of the planned landfill from the nearby populated place in BiH, which is only one kilometer away. In addition, Croatia does not adhere to the standard that states that radioactive waste is disposed of where it was generated, in this case in the vicinity of NE Krško (Slovenia), and thereby introduces an additional risk of transporting it from Slovenia through Croatia to the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. stated Minister Košarac.
He stated that the delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina will hold a meeting in May with representatives of competent institutions in Slovenia, who expressed their understanding of the issue in question.
“Slovenia not only has experience and acquired knowledge, but also possesses and is currently further expanding its capacities for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Therefore, the best solution would be to dispose of this waste at the location where it is generated, as prescribed by EU regulations and standards,” said Minister Košarac.
He said that it is necessary to make additional efforts and jointly find a solution that will protect people’s health, the environment, agriculture and the economy in this area.
“We expect you to inform us as soon as possible about the possible dates for holding a meeting in Brussels to discuss the issue of the construction of the disputed landfill on Trgovska gora,” said Minister Košarac, the Ministry announced.