“The ‘Compact for Growth and Jobs’, presented on 24 July, should be the basis for urgent economic reforms and for the National Economic Reform Programme which Bosnia and Herzegovina should develop by early 2015”, said Georg Ziegler, Deputy Head of Unit for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement, at a presentation of the findings of the 2014 Progress Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina to members of BiH business community in Sarajevo today.
Mr Ziegler added that the European Commission also expects that Bosnia and Herzegovina will agree to adapt the trade part of the Interim Agreement and Stabilisation and Association Agreement in view of Croatia’s accession to the EU on the basis of the traditional trade between the two countries as a matter of urgency.
“As manifested in the social protests of early 2014, addressing socio-economic needs of citizens must be the priority of all levels of government, in particular tackling the very high youth unemployment and assisting those in need”, Mr Ziegler stressed.
The European Union regularly consults with representatives of the BiH society, including business community, and their valuable input is sought when preparing annual progress reports for countries which aspire to join the Union.
