The EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina/Head of the Delegation of the European Union, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, discussed next steps in the EU integration agenda with Federation Prime Minister Fadil Novalic today. The Ambassador noted how there is a clear consensus across the institutions and political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the agenda outlined in the Written Commitment of February 2015, and expressed full support for the Prime Minister’s work to move ahead on social and economic reforms together with prime ministerial counterparts at state level and in the RS entity.
“There is a clear need, in the interest of the people – especially among theyoung and the unemployed – to get the economy going,” Ambassador Wigemark said at the press conference following the meeting. He also noted that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union, that came fully into force on 1 June 2015, signals a much more intense period of co-operation on EU integration. Calling for improvement of the business environment including in corporate governance, the Ambassador said: “We are now in a new era and need to do away with the old ways of doing business and make Bosnia and Herzegovina more competitive. Narrow interests must be put behind us. ” He concluded that the confidence of both domestic and international investors who are ready help create jobs is boosted by the entry into force of the SAA and the forthcoming reform agenda.
It is expected that an initial agenda for reforms linked to EU standards and legislation, developed by the BiH authorities with the assistance of the EU and the International Financial Institutions, will be agreed later this month.
