On Wednesday 24 August, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes Hahn welcomed Bosnia-Herzegovina’s adoption of the coordination mechanism.
"This is an important step which will be taken into account in our discussions with the Council when considering Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for EU membership. Its effective implementation at all levels will be crucial", Mogherini and Hahn commented. The EU had been awaiting adoption of the mechanism for several months. It aims to improve coordination and implementation of the policy in the country, including financial aid from the EU, and to ensure more effective interaction between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the European Union, the European Commission states in a press release.
Mogherini and Hahn said that Sarajevo had made "substantial progress" in recent months, in efforts to move closer to the European Union. In July, they said, the agreement for the adaptation of the stabilisation and asociation areement (SAA) was initialled (see EUROPE 11597) and a decision was taken to proceed with an IMF (International Monetary Fund) programme, "which will provide crucial support for implementation of the reform agenda".
Mogherini and Hahn encouraged Bosnia-Herzegovina’s leadership to "to continue their intensified positive interaction, tackle constructively and through dialogue political issues and concentrate on reforms needed to the benefit of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina". The EU leaders added: "From our side, we will continue our close and dynamic engagement with Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance the country’s EU perspective". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)