Brussels, 16/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - The fifth interparliamentary meeting between the EU and Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) last week in Brussels stressed the importance of making the country self-sustainable and independent of outside economic aid. The parliamentary delegations mainly welcomed the launching of a feasibility study by the European Commission, to decide whether to negotiate an association and stabilisation agreement with the country. Welcoming the conclusions of the Thessaloniki Summit on the Balkans, on 21 June (EUROPE of 22 June, p.4), which confirms the prospect of European membership for BiH, they encourage it to pursue reform along these lines as well as political cooperation regarding common foreign and security policy (CFSP).
In a joint statement, both parties call upon the political authorities of BiH, and above all on the current government, to do everything in their power to allow the State institutions to function effectively in a framework of self-sustainability. While welcoming the work carried out by the Office of the High Representative (OHR) on the ground, the civil side of the United Nations stabilisation force in BiH (SFOR), they call for its role to be gradually reduced and for a rapid transfer of responsibility from the international community to BiH institutions. The parliamentary delegations express concern about the fate of the refugees and displaced persons in BiH and, citing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), stress that 390,000 people are still seeking a solution in BiH. They call upon the European Commission to grant more financial resources to this area. While welcoming the positive work done by the EU Police Mission (EUPM) and recalling that the fight against organised crime remains a priority, the statement notes that "a lot of work still needs to be done" for improving coordination and consistency of the various local police forces and their training and employment conditions. In this context, and above all in order to facilitate the work of the EUPM, the statement again calls for a cooperation agreement between the BiH and Europol. It notes BiH authorities' readiness to full and effectively cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and encourages SFOR to strengthen its efforts for the investigation and capture of the indicted persons. Finally, insisting on the dramatic situation of the economy (high public debt and high rate of unemployment), the parliamentary delegations insist on the need to carry out structural reforms - also to put an end to the country's dependence on external economic aid - mainly with regards privatisation and social rights. They also recommend pursuing: - the setting in place of a single customs system and a State-level VAT for the country; - the fight against corruption; - regional cooperation in the fields of energy and transport; - and reform of the public administration.