Dr. Lagumdzija – Minister Pusic: Very important that as many EU member countries support the need for a new and more creative approach to B&H



Today, on 28 March, 2014, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dr. Zlatko Lagumdzija met in Sarajevo with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Vesna Pusic.

On this occasion Dr. Lagumdzija thanked Minister Pusic for support to European future of B&H and, in particular, for her proposal to launch special approach to the process of EU integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina which would provide significant step forward in accession of B&H to the European Union as a new approach was initiated within this process, as well as for the overall support provided to our country.

Speaking about the forthcoming meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to be held in April, Dr. Lagumdzija emphasized that it is very important that as many EU member countries support the need for a new and more creative approach to B&H at the meeting in Brussels and he assessed that, regarding the pre-election period in B&H, it is the right time to present something “new”. He added that it would be very good if the election campaign is about who will be a part of solving problems in this country and who will be more involved in Euro-Atlantic integration process of B&H.

Dr. Lagumdzija specially emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina does not require any facilities in fulfilling criteria for the EU accession, but one more definite approach of Brussels. In that context, he said that B&H is not giving up fulfillment of political requirements on its European path and will continue to work intensively on the implementation of the “Sejdic-Finci” judgment, as well as to establish efficient coordination mechanism. With regard to the above mentioned, Dr. Lagumdzija welcomed the European Commission’s new approach towards countries involved in the enlargement process which is focused on economic reform and development.

Speaking about further cooperation between B&H and Croatia in the field of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Dr. Lagumdzija expressed his hope that it will be soon realized and intensified by signing the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia on Euro-Atlantic Partnership.

Minister Pusic reiterated that Croatia provides support to European and Euro-Atlantic integration of B&H. She stressed that Croatia is interested in B&H’s progress on its path to the EU membership and she assessed that the EU recognized the need for some new approach to B&H and the discussions have been already initiated. Among other things, she said that the opinion and experience of Croatia is that the process of accession to the EU and the membership in our part of Europe have specific characteristics – characteristics of the process of institution building to be in service of citizens.

During the meeting Dr. Lagumdzija and Minister Pusic agreed that, besides several outstanding issues, bilateral relations between B&H and Croatia are good and friendly and, in 2013 bilateral cooperation was intensive and aimed at resolving outstanding issues related to Croatia’s accession to the EU.

They also discussed the possibility of holding Joint Session of the Council of Ministers of B&H and the Government of the Republic of Croatia which present an opportunity to discuss and propose solutions for certain outstanding issues between the two countries.