Brussels, 16/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 16 March, the Foreign Affairs Council announced that it would commit to proceeding with the conclusion and entry into force of the stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) with Bosnia-Herzegovina, noting that the necessary conditions for this have been achieved.
In its conclusions, the Council thus welcomes - in connection with its conclusions of 15 December 2014 (see EUROPE 11219) - the adoption of the written commitment of the Bosnia-Herzegovina presidency on 29 January (see EUROPE 11243), the signature of the written commitment by the leaders of the political parties and its later approval by the Bosnia-Herzegovina Parliament on 23 February 2015 (see EUROPE 11261).
No date has yet been set for the entry into force of this agreement that was initialled in October 2007. However, according to the Council, the legal procedures will be started shortly after this Council and are expected to take a few weeks. The SAA will enter into force two months after the adoption of the formal decision by the Council.
In their conclusions, the EU foreign affairs ministers call on Bosnia-Herzegovina's leadership “to fully uphold its commitments and obligations, including those relating to the adaptation of the forthcoming SAA”. The leadership must also remain engaged with the EU under the renewed approach and maintain the positive momentum by developing an initial agenda for reforms in consultation with the EU, the foreign affairs ministers add. “This reform agenda, to be developed and implemented also in consultation with civil society, should include reforms under the Copenhagen criteria and agreed functionality issues (including the EU coordination mechanism)”, the Council states in its conclusions. It adds that “meaningful” progress on the implementation of the reform agenda, including the compact for growth and jobs, will be necessary for a membership application to be considered by the EU. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)