Mr. Pierre Mirel, Director for Western Balkans in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement, attended today the Conference „Parliament for Europe“ organised by the European Union Special Representative to BiH Dr. Miroslav Lajcak. This session gathered members of parliaments at all levels in BiH and guests from the European Union to share with BiH parliamentarians expectations of the EU and the experiences of other countries in the EU integration process.
Mr. Mirel presented major messages for Bosnia and Herzegovina from the recently published European Commission’s Progress Report. He reiterated that the European Commission hoped for signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement to open the way for further reforms. „Yesterday the Council in Brussels underlined their concern about the lack of reform, lack of political consensus and expressed the hope that recent agreement concluded between political leaders will create the way for wide political consensus and will lead you in reforms.“ Mr. Mirel stressed that commitment of political leaders often expressed over the past years towards the European integration process, had not resulted in concrete measures so far which would take this country further in that process. In this regard he concluded that wide political consensus was necessary for the success in the European integration process.
Ambassador Lajcak announced that this session represented the beginning of the systematic approach to the promotion of the European integration process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, he said that these sessions would be organised on a monthly basis until June 2009. He explained that the European Union wants the support of European integration process in BiH to be based on in-depth knowledge about the benefits of the process itself. In that regard, Ambassador Lajcak announced activities planned for non-governmental organisation and other stakeholders in order for them to take active part in the entire European integration process. „From today this parallel activity begins and I am inviting all citizens to take their active role in this process. The process of benefit to all citizens of this country.“, said Ambassador Lajcak.
Dr. Eduard Kukan, Council of Europe Assembly Member and member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Parliament explained that he was invited to the event in order to share with BiH parliamentary members the success story – The Republic of Slovakia on its European integration path. Mr. Kukan, former Foreign Minister of Slovakia during the key-period for his country (1998 – 2006) said that he believes that Slovakia’s experience could be helpful for Bosnia and Herzegovina and how it is important to share that experience with the BH parliamentarians.
Conference continued with the presentations focusing on all major aspects of the European integration process and the role that parliaments should have in it.
