Dr. Lagumdzija – High Representative Ashton: B&H and the EU must work together to solve people’s real life problems in these times



 

On 12 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 High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton.

Dr. Lagumdzija expressed his satisfaction over the visit of High Representative Ashton and he expects that this visit, after being informed about the recent events in B&H and the current situation in our country, will accelerate the path of B&H towards the European Union.

“Here we have people with real life problems that require real solutions in these times. Today, as well as tomorrow. This is what people want and what they are saying us. We must listen to it and work on it. Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union together”, emphasized Dr. Lagumdzija.  

Dr. Lagumdzija said he was encouraged by what he heard at the meeting and an optimism High Representative Ashton expressed over Bosnia and Herzegovina. He stressed that progress of B&H towards the EU should be carried out in two parallel directions. B&H will continue to fulfill its political obligations on European path and to work on the implementation of the Sejdic Finci judgment, as well as to establish efficient mechanism of coordination. But today there is a need for major economic and social reforms, rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime that we can not accomplish without support of the EU.

Having in mind the current situation, Dr. Lagumdzija stressed that this is a moment for the EU to launch a new approach. The EU approach in the following period is very important for our country in order to identify those who are for B&H’s progress towards the EU and those with imputed political opinion.

Baroness Ashton said that the European Union understands that B&H is specific country and the EU should consider a wider range of B&H approach to European integration which includes political, economic and social segment.

She also stressed that the EU is aware of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with complex structures and it is necessary to find common solution for problems in B&H. With regard to that, Baroness Ashton decided to include in the agenda of the upcoming session of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) to be held on 17 March, 2014 in Brussels the discussion on the situation in B&H and called for B&H representatives to give their inputs regarding a new approach of the EU towards B&H.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton emphasized that the goal of the EU is not to facilitate fulfillment of criteria for B&H on its path towards European integration, but how to help B&H to completely fulfill those standards.

She emphasized that requests of citizens set out during demonstrations encouraged the EU to reconsider long-term economic measures that will contribute to the reduction of unemployment, especially of young people, as well as to the improvement of environment for investing in B&H.