The Chairman 41360e Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegović met in Brussels with President 41360e European Union Herman Van Rompuy, Chairman 41360e European Parliament Martin Schulz, President 41360e European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, High Representative 41360e European Union for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton, as well as Commissioner for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy Štefan Füle.

Taking into account that this is his first visit after taking over the chairmanship 41360e Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegović highlighted that, in this way, he wishes to send a message that the integration to the European Union is the first and most important foreign policy priority for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to establish a more intensive and direct dialogue with the highest officials 41360e European Union on all questions concerning the process 41360e European integrations.

Chairman Izetbegović said that building 41360e European future and integration to the European Union are the clearly expressed wishes and interests of all peoples and citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the European path is a realistic platform on which they can ensure stability and prosperity of our country.

By pointing out that Bosnia and Herzegovina now has a realistic chance to make a significant step in the process of European integrations, the highest officials 41360e European Union strongly welcomed the progress which our country has made in the past few months, particularly highlighting the forming 41360e Council of Ministers, adapting 41360e Census Law and the Law on State Aid, as well as recently reached agreement on the solution 41360e questions of military and state property.

Commissioner for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy Štefan Füle expressed readiness to assist in finding additional funding for the financing of infrastructural projects of regional significance with a particular accent on the Corridor 5C.  The Commissioner for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy on this occasion agreed that there is the need to increase the number of beepers on borders between BiH and the Republic of Croatia.

Chairman Izetbegović stressed that it is of key importance to establish clear and effective mechanism of coordination 41360e work with regards to the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina at soonest, with an aim of harmonization of activities 41360e institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina on their implementation of obligations from the processes of European integrations and contractual obligations from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

BiH Presidency Chairman Bakir Izetbegović said that at this moment our main aim is to accelerate the progress of our country on its European path and create conditions to, in the shortest period, submit the application for membership which will be deemed as credible by the European Union. The interlocutors jointly marked that for this to occur; it is of utmost importance to reach an agreement on the implementation 41360e ruling in the case of Sejdić-Finci, inter alia, to make specific steps towards the implementation 41360at ruling.

By highlighting that there is a strongly expressed political will of all relevant political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement the ruling 41360e Court in Strasbourg in the case of Sejdić-Finci, Chairman Izetbegović asked from the leaders 41360e European Union to appreciate the efforts which have been made in this area recently, and to offer Bosnia and Herzegovina concrete incentive to keep the created momentum.

“Political concensus on the European path has never been more strongly or explicitly expressed. The doors 41360e European Union are open, and the responsibility is on us to use this opportunity to strongly move forward and in the next months create conditions for the submission 41360e credible application for membership,” said the Chairman of BiH Presidency Bakir Izetbegović.

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