Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has invited the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Brussels on 27-28 February 2008 for a meeting to discuss issues related to the country’s European integration.

The initialling of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) last December helped re-energise Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European agenda. At the time, in Sarajevo, the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed their commitment to European integration.

When inviting the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina Commissioner Rehn said: “I am fully committed to the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its people.  Like them, I want to see Bosnia and Herzegovina progress towards membership in the EU. The political leaders of the country need to recapture a positive momentum and take the next steps. I am looking forward to a very substantive and forward-looking exchange about the country’s EU perspective and the challenges that lie ahead.”

In Sarajevo in December 2007, the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina also undertook to complete the police reform by adopting relevant legislation in accordance with their earlier political agreement expressed in the Mostar and Sarajevo Declarations. They committed to achieve this in close consultation with the European Union’s Special Representative (EUSR) and with the European Union Police Mission (EUPM). The signature of the SAA depends on this.

Discussions in Brussels will focus on these and other topics. Commissioner Rehn will discuss with the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina the remaining conditions for the signature of the SAA, including full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), public broadcasting reform, and public administration. Vice President Kallas and Commissioner Potocnik will share their experiences in policy making on the way to EU membership. Commissioner Potocnik will also further encourage the practical participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in European programmes such as the Framework Programme for Research. Director General O’Sullivan will discuss trade prospects in the context of the SAA, regional trade integration and WTO accession.

Participants of the meeting:

Commission:

Mr. Siim Kallas, Vice-President, Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud

Mr. Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement

Mr. Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research

Mr. David O’Sullivan, Director General for Trade

Mr. Michael Leigh, Director General for Enlargement

Participation of BiH political leaders:

Mr. Zeljko Komsic, Chairman of the BiH Presidency

Mr. Haris Silajdzic, Member of the BiH Presidency and President of SBiH

Mr. Nebojsa Radmanovic, Member of the BiH Presidency

Mr. Nikola Spiric, Chairman (Prime Minister) of the Council of Ministers,

Mr. Milorad Dodik, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska and President of SNSD

Mr. Mladen Ivanic, President of PDP and Chairman of the BiH House of Peoples

Mr. Bozo Ljubic, President of HDZ 1990 and Minister of Transport & Communications

Mr. Dragan Covic, President of HDZ BiH,

Mr. Adil Osmanovic Vice-president of SDA and Deputy President of Republika Srpska

Ms Jadranka Negodic, BiH Ambassador to the Mission to the EU

Mr. Osman Topcagic, Director of the Directorate for European Integration,

Mr. Igor Davidovic, Chief Negotiator for the SAA

Press advisory:

Wed, 27 Feb 16:15       photo-op at the beginning of the session only for photographers and cameramen
Thu, 28 Feb 11:00       Press in point in the Berlaymont press room with Commissioner Olli Rehn, the members of the Presidency and the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Interested photographers and cameramen, accredited to the Commission should present themselves  at 15:45  at office number 2/309

If you are not accredited, pls register comm-spp-enlargement@ec.europa .eu