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BRUSSELS, June 11 (FENA) – The Head of the EU Delegation and the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, addressed those present in Brussels on the occasion of the signing of the Agreement on Frontex between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing the significance of this event for BiH’s path to the European Union.
''Commissioner Brunner, Chairwoman Krišto, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen: It is a great pleasure and honour to welcome you all to this important occasion – the signature ceremony of the Frontex Status Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina,'' said Soreca at the beginning of his address.
He reminded that the European Council decided on 21 March 2024 to open accession negotiations with BiH once the required steps are fulfilled; one of those steps involves ''progressing on border management and migration management capacity''.
''Signing this Agreement today is a clear response to this requirement and marks a milestone in the journey of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards European integration,'' Soreca stressed.
He stated that today’s step has a special significance because it comes at a time when Bosnia and Herzegovina has plunged into a deep political crisis that, regrettably, has all but stopped progress on EU integration.
''Negotiating this agreement required first engagement at the political level to get the negotiation started; second it required the BiH negotiation team (comprising of twelve members representing nine different institutions from all levels of government) to see through their differences and to find consensus on compromise solutions during extensive negotiations with the Commission; and third it required the BiH Council of Ministers and Presidency to endorse the results of the negotiation and greenlight the signature of the Agreement, during politically challenging times,'' said the Head of EU Delegation in BiH.
He emphasized that this once again demonstrates that Bosnia and Herzegovina, in spite of all its complexities, has the capacity to move forward when there is sufficient political will to do so.
At the end of his address, Soreca expressed hope that the same level of political will would be demonstrated in the remaining steps Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to take before holding the first Intergovernmental Conference.
(FENA) A. B.
