Chairman Zvizdić in Vienna with Chancellor Kurz, Prime Ministers of the region and EC Commissioners

Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Dr Denis Zvizidć attended today in Vienna a work meeting, organised by Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz. The meeting was attended by Prime Ministers of Albania. Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, Minister of Economy of Macedonia, and European Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Mariya Gabriel. 

The topics of the meeting was regional cooperation, prospects of the Western Balkans, bilateral issues and overcoming the possible problems.

Addressing the meeting, Chairman Zvizdić thanked to Chancellor Kurz for the invitation and initiative for improvement of regional cooperation within the process of the Western Balkans countries integration to the EU, as he emphasised is the key cohesive factor of the region, to secure stabilisation and economic prosperity, including the rule of law with respect of fundamental rights and freedoms and democratic principles.

He said that Bosnia and Herzegovina is still strongly committed to its integration to the EU. He stressed that answers to additional questions of the European Commission are in the final stage of preparation, and expressed his hope that one of prime tasks at the start of mandate of the new BIH Presidency would be visiting Brussels with finalised answers, by which BIH would fulfil all conditions for gaining the candidate status.

Speaking of bilateral cooperation, Chairman Zvizdić pointed at a need to overcome noted challenges through compliance to already concluded agreements and taken-up obligations. Also, he pointed at a need for holding and promoting regular dialogue at all levels, aiming to secure a constructive communication and cooperation in mutual relations. He noted a trend of inflammatory and radical rethorics by high political officials from certain countries of the region, which do not contribute to dealing with the heavy heritage from the past and or the existing and future ones,  so he said he is hopeful that such messages would be replaced by those to create a space for peaceful, stable an prosperous environment in the region.

During the meeting, Commissioner Hahan gave a breakdown of the situation with implementation of agreed-to measures for creation of the regional economic space of the Western Balkans. He urged on Prime Ministers to point at the  difficulties they come across and at possibilities for overcoming them. Chancellor Kurz informed the meeting of the plans of Austria during the remainder if its chairmanship of the European Union, giving support to solving bilateral issues, and urged to a decisive progress in order to improve the European integrations process.

Chancellor Kurz urged the meeting to focus at the existing obligations and to presentation of new joint projects by WB6 to support the regional cooperation, especially in those segments for which finances were already arranged.

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