Bosnia and the EU: Costa calls for a High Representative aligned with European membership

“There are two days left – he recalled – until the meeting of the Peace Implementation Council. Bosnia-Herzegovina is no longer in the situation it was in 1995. The lots of progress. If the country’s future lies in the European Union, it is crucial that the new High Representative, who will be appointed by the Peace Implementation Council’s steering committee, embodies Bosnia and Herzegovina’s choice to pursue membership of the European Union.” The new High Representative will have to replace the German Christian Schmidtof the Bavarian CSU.

The High Representative is appointed by the steering committee of the Peace Implementation Council which is due to meet this week, which includes over 50 countries, including Russia and the USA. The appointment must be ratified by the UN Security Council. “We will continue to work together for a shared European future, within the European Union and in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Costa added.

Accession to the European Union – underlined the President of the European Council – is one free and sovereign choice for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s not just about access to the single market, but about becoming part of a political Union based on common values ​​and shared strategic choices.”

“In this period of global geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability – he added – enlargement, more than an opportunity, represents a geostrategic interest for Europe. It is an investment in the peace, stability and security of our continent”.

For this reason, “I await with interest the EU-Western Balkans summit which will be held this Friday in Tivatin Montenegro. The summit will be a clear demonstration of our determination to strengthen cooperation and build on the momentum of the enlargement of the European Union.”