"BiH must return to its EU path and cannot wait until the 2026 elections," was the message from EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who is on an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After this morning’s meetings with BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović and Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Krišto, Kos conveyed to the media the key messages from Brussels.
The Commissioner stressed that BiH made a significant step towards the EU a year and a half ago, when the European Council decided to open accession negotiations.
"The decision was the result of the hard work of all institutions, particularly the BiH Council of Ministers. We saw that steps were needed to adopt two key laws," said Kos, adding that BiH is currently facing challenges from unconstitutional and secessionist legislation coming from the BiH entity RS.
"The EU’s response was strong. Issues such as the Constitutional Court and the Central Election Commission must be respected. I call on the Council of Ministers to begin implementing reforms. BiH must return to its EU path and cannot wait until the 2026 elections," she added.
Kos urged political actors to take concrete steps so that the accession process can advance.
"We know what the steps are. They include judicial reform, a new law on the court, a law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council aligned with EU standards, as well as the appointment of a chief negotiator to launch the screening process. This is an opportunity BiH must not miss," the Commissioner concluded.
Krišto: Reform agenda key to accelerating BiH’s European path
Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Krišto, following her meeting with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, stated today that adopting the reform agenda is crucial for implementing the Growth Plan and accelerating Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path.
Krišto underlined that contacts and talks with the EU so far have already produced positive results.
"Since the appointment of Commissioner Marta Kos, we have had numerous meetings, pressures, and ongoing communication in order to make progress on issues related to the European path and the necessary reforms for Bosnia and Herzegovina," said the Chairwoman, recalling that she and Commissioner Kos had constructive discussions on many topics, including the work of BiH’s Council of Ministers institutions and competencies relating to the review of reforms.
She particularly underlined the importance of implementing the Growth Plan and adopting the reform agenda.
"Above all, the public is interested in the reform agenda and our responsibility in carrying it out. After the Council of Ministers session, when the first round of voting on the draft reform agenda failed, today I once again expressed my optimism, which I believe is well-founded. We are confident that in the second round of voting we will soon adopt reform measures and inform the European Commission," Krišto said.
(Eupravo zato)
