BIH Progress Report Handed over

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Vjekoslav Bevanda received in Sarajevo Head of Delegation of the European Union and EU Special Representative in BIH Peter Sorenssen, who handed over the fifth European Commission BIH Progress Report, in which it was stressed that BIH only has made a limited progress in fulfilment of political criteria. 

The meeting discussed the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement as well as economic issues, more specifically the sectors most in need of support and effectiveness, especially when it comes to fulfilment of contracts, arbitration processes, fight against corruption and accelerated privatisation which might serve as a stimulus to economic development.

The Report commended efforts towards a definition of an effective EU coordination mechanism in BIH taken by the Council of Ministers, negotiations for a WTO membership, and continuation of visa policy, migrations and border management improvements, while some areas, like public procurement, veterinary service and food safety, environmental protection and rural development, were indicated as requiring additional efforts in order to make the progress evident.

The meeting stressed that more determination will be needed in  future solution-finding to a series of economic and political issues, with due respect taken of fundamental issues of the rule of law, and expressed optimism that with additional efforts, BIH will manage to take forward the elimination of deficiencies in order to achieve a concrete progressing on its way to the EU.

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