Commissioner Hahn in visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, is in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovinatoday to reiterate the EU’s engagement to support the country on its EU path and to discuss the implementation of the necessary reforms and measures. Commissioner Hahn will meet with key political representatives including the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr Denis Zvizdić, the Members of the Presidency, Mr Dragan Čović, and Mr Bakir Izetbegović, as well as representatives of all the main political parties who signed the Written Commitment to jointly pursue EU integration in February 2015. The Commissioner will also inaugurate of the new building hosting the State Prosecutor’s Office in Sarajevo, which was funded by the EU. Ahead of this important visit, Commissioner Hahn said: “The European Commission and Member States are deeply concerned about the lack of progress on necessary reforms so far in 2017. While the European Union is more committed than ever to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its EU path political leaders both in government and in opposition seem more concerned with the usual nationalistic themes and talk about “crisis” instead of focusing on the real work at hand. In my meetings with the authorities I will stress that the Commission expects from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s elected leaders to deliver on the Written Commitment they have undertaken in February 2015. The only way to move forward in the EU integration process is to achieve concrete results on reforms.  This includes delivering on the Reform Agenda measures, create jobs, strengthening of rule of law and improving the quality and efficient of public administration. It also includes adopting the necessary country-wide strategies, such as on agriculture, in order to benefit from extensive EU financial assistance. This, instead of a divisive rhetoric, will contribute to move the country closer to the EU and, above all will directly benefit citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Videos and photos of the visit will be available on EbS.