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SARAJEVO, September 12 (FENA) - The Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Paneuropean Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized today a conference titled "Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Austrian Presidency of the EU" in Sarajevo, on the occasion of the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU.
Representatives of the European Union, ambassadors of EU member states, policy makers in BiH, experts, analysts and representatives of civil society, gathered in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to discuss the main aspects of the EU enlargement process and the European integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and topics such as reforms, the rule of law, bilateral issues, reconciliation and vision for the future.
Acting President of the Paneuropean Union of BiH, Haris Ćutahija said that this organization is trying to help in building a consensus of all actors in the process of European integration.
“Both, the position and opposition should have a common vision of a process that does not need to collect cheap political points. Bosnia and Herzegovina has friends in the institutions of the European Union, but that does not mean much until it launches the processes and reforms itself,” concluded Ćutahija.
Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to BiH, Martin Pammer said that his country advocates for further enlargement of the European Union, although currently not all members are sharing this opinion.
He underlined that Austria has a great interest in seeing BiH progress on this path and expressed hope that after the General Elections, the country will get constructive forces that will continue to work on the implementation of the Reform Agenda and the EU integration process.
Klaus Wolfer, Head of the EU Enlargement Department at the Austrian Foreign Ministry said that Austria, which is chairing the EU in this six-month term, is frustrated by border disputes between EU member states and believes that the Western Balkan countries need to sort out such issues with dialogue before joining the EU.
Wolfer, who is well acquainted with the region because he spent years in service in Belgrade and Zagreb, rated as useful these and other similar activities of the Paneuropean Union of BiH in the accession process.
Head of the European Union Delegation to BiH, Ambassador Lars Gunnar Wigemark, said that seemingly impossible things can function when there is a true will, citing an example of the BiH coordination mechanism that has been established as a link between different levels of government so that they can "speak with one voice" with Brussels.
He urged political actors in BiH to agree, in the spirit of compromise, immediately after the General Elections, on how to implement the election results in order to continue as soon as possible with the European integration process.
(FENA) S. R.
