The High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko, met today with the Collegia of both Houses of BiH Parliamentary Assembly to discuss the country’s commitments and obligations on the road to Euro-Atlantic integration.

The HR/EUSR underlined that Europe’s commitment to BiH must be matched by a commitment from BiH to address the necessary reforms, and underlined that the Peace Implementation Council’s Steering Board, at its last meeting in Sarajevo, called for improvement in the performance of the BiH parliament.

Noting that Foreign Ministers of the Czech Republic, the current EU Presidency, Karel Schwarzenberg, Foreign Minister of France, Bernard Kouchner and of Sweden, Carl Bildt as the previous and the future EU Presidencies are visiting Sarajevo today and tomorrow, HR/EUSR Inzko said: “The EU is focused on BiH at the highest level and has confirmed its commitment towards this country; it is now up to the country’s political leadership to demonstrate its own commitment to BiH’s European perspective by moving from declarative support for reform to deeds”.

“Europe is waiting and is willing to help but it will not do your politician’s job,” said Inzko.

“We need to build on the success of the Brcko amendment and move forward on the EU agenda”, said the HR/EUSR. “I am your partner and I hope that Brcko can be a model for other legislative challenges facing this country; most importantly laws from the European Partnership and Visa Liberalization road map” said High Representative and EU Special Representative Inzko.

“The Annex 7 Strategy on refugee returns, currently under consideration in this parliament, is another chance to maintain momentum and to show that this parliament has the capacity to resolve tough issues” concluded High Representative and EU Special Representative, Valentin Inzko.