BRUSSELS, MARCH 22 (ONASA) – On the occasion of the European Council’s decision to open EU negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dr. Denis Bećirović, pointed out that this decision represents one of the greatest achievements on our path to full EU membership.
– Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina begins a new and much more comprehensive process of cooperation with the EU. The results we have achieved have been recognized and now the path of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards full membership in the EU is clearly laid out – Bećirović points out.
He adds that at the same time we must be aware that we have a lot of work ahead of us to harmonize our legislation with European legislation, as well as to implement reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law.
– The EU based its decision on two important aspects. The first is that Bosnia and Herzegovina has made more progress in the last year than in the entire previous decade. It is the result of the dedicated work of the state institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another important aspect relates to the geopolitical significance of this EU decision in terms of strengthening the stability and security of the entire European continent.
Acceptance of such an approach required strong diplomatic action and continuous cooperation with European partners and key allies of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Strengthening stability and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region, as an inseparable part of the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, was the focus of my many conversations with the highest European officials – emphasized the Chairman of the BiH Presidency.
He underlined that the European Council’s decision to open EU negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina is significant for all citizens and peoples in our country and that this is clear from the messages to everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina that our future is in the EU. Negotiation for EU membership is a process of political, legal, economic, social and cultural integration with the aim of building a democratic and legal state.
– Now, when we have opened the door to full membership in the EU, we must continue with the reform processes even more intensively. We have been given the opportunity and trust to show our dedication and commitment to the EU integration process with concrete actions, and we must take advantage of it. EU membership has no alternative. This is a joint victory of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU – said Bećirović.
He thanked the EU member states and EU institutions, the EU Delegation in BiH and the ambassadors of the EU member states in our country for their support to Bosnia and Herzegovina.