Announcements
Council for General Affairs of European Union Accepts BIH Application for EU Membership and Requested European Union to Prepare Questionnaire for BIH
09/19/2016
After the application for membership in the European Union was filled this February and all requirements under the European Agenda fulfilled, which were necessary precondition for consideration of the application, The European Union Council formally requested the European Commission to give tis opinion on BIH application for the membership in the European Union. That means that Bosnia and Herzegovina is to receive in the period to come a set of several thousand questions, which need to be answered to.
The entire conclusion of the European Union Council for General Affairs is presented below:
1. On February 15, 2016, Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Čović filed an application of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership in the European Union. The Council decided to start a procedure defined under Article 49 of the Contract on European Union. In accordance with this, the Commission was invited to issue its Opinion.
2. Recalling a renewed consensus on enlargement, reflected in the conclusions of the European Council of December 14/15, 2006, the Council reaffirms the future of the Western Balkans leis with the European Union. The Council reiterates that a progress of each country towards the European Union depends on its individual efforts to comply with Copenhagen criteria and conditions underlying the Stabilisation and Accession Process.
3. Repeating previous conclusions of the Council, especially those of December 15, 2015, as well as its unambiguous commitment to the perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a single, unite and sovereign state, the Council welcomes considerable progress in the Reform Agenda implementation, on which all-level authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina agree. The Council urges Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue its efforts on securing an effective implementation of the Reform Agenda, in accordance with the related Action Plan schedule, agreed by Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities, for the benefit of tis citizens and in close cooperation with the European Union, international financial institutions and international partners, as well as with civil society. Besides socio-economic reforms, these efforts should be further focused to the rule of law and public administration reforms. The Council invites the Commission to continue reporting on the Reform Agenda implementation, including the Coordination Mechanism. On preparing tis Opinion of the application of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership, the Council requires the Commission to pay a special attention to the Sejdić-Finci ruling implementation.
4. The Council welcomes initialling of a Protocol on Adaptation of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, which takes into consideration of Croatia to the European Union. A full implementation of the SAA, including its adaptation represents an important element of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s commitment to the European integrations process.
5. The Council further welcomes an agreement on establishment of the Coordination Mechanism on the EU issues. The Council urges all-level authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure its effective implementation, as an important step towards the improvement of functionality and effectiveness.
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