On 1 July, Croatia became the 28th Member State of the European Union. To mark Croatian accession, an official ceremony was held at the offices of the EU Delegation in Sarajevo on 1 July to place the Croatian flag alongside those of the other 27 Member States. The Ambassador of the EU in BiH, Peter Sorensen, and Ambassador of Croatia to BiH, Tonci Stanicic addressed the assembled guests at the event.

In his welcoming remarks to the Croatian delegation, Ambassador Sorensen emphasized that the efforts and commitment to the EU road that Croatia has shown and that have now resulted in membership of the Union should motivate other Western Balkans countries to speed up their progress in European integration.

Ambassador Sorensen added: “Croatia’s entry is testament to the country’s efforts to reform and to meet the challenges of the accession process. It shows that with the necessary political will to implement political and economic reforms, and to show respect for European values such as the rule of law, democratic principles and human rights – then, and only then, European Union membership can be achieved.

“Croatia’s membership also provides fresh evidence of the transformative power of the European Union’s enlargement policy: torn by conflict only two decades ago, the Republic of Croatia is now a stable democracy, capable of taking on the obligations of European Union membership. Therefore, on behalf of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and as EU Special Representative – warm and heartfelt congratulations, Ambassador Stanicic.”

Croatian Ambassador to BiH Tonči Staničić addressed the gathering in Croatian language – a new official language of the European Union – emphasizing that Croatia has come back officially into the heart of Europe, where it belongs.

Ambassador Staničić added: “Numerous and also necessary words of appreciation were uttered last night in Zagreb, but they need to be repeated here as well. As the leading Croatian diplomat in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on behalf of my staff and myself, I sincerely thank Ambassador Sorensen, his team, all those in the Delegation who have been dealing in the last several years with the substantive, sincere, ultimately constructive cooperation regarding all issues so important for Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the entire region.”

Both Ambassador Sorensen and Ambassador Staničić pointed on significance of 1 July for BiH; Croatia entering the EU is further evidence that European perspective of BiH is the only realistic option for BiH to prosper by using the closeness of the EU single market with more than 500 million consumers.