News in English     | 06.02.2018. 18:35 |

Wigemark: I expect responses to EC Questionnaire by end of this month

FENA Alma Zukanović

SARAJEVO, February 6 (FENA) - Bosnia and Herzegovina is for the first time harmonizing the common positions with new mechanisms and procedures, and we expect the responses to the European Commission's Questionnaire to be ready by the end of this month, said today in Sarajevo Head of the European Union Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark after presenting the European Union Enlargement Strategy for the Western Balkans in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Mr. Wigemark pointed out that it is not clearly stated anywhere that the Dayton Agreement will have to be changed, that he knows that there are parts that will have to be altered, but that there are elements that have been implemented, such as Annex 7.

He said that the EU is generally against any EU accession deadlines, even for BiH, and that the Strategy only mentions 2025 as an indicative year.

"Some countries have moved further away or have begun earlier, and as far as progress is concerned, we know that these things can change, as in the case of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which has long had the candidate status, but has not made any significant progress," Mr. Wigemark said.

Ten years ago, BiH was in a position to make real progress, Mr. Wigemark added, but there was a halt.

He stressed that he did not lobby in the European Parliament and underlined that any decision in terms of enlargement or candidate status is in the "hands of member states".

"This country has made significant progress over the past three years thanks to the new approach that has been harmonized just three years ago in the form of a written statement which has been signed by all 14 parliamentary parties," he recalled.

Mr. Wigemark pointed out that many argue that it took quite a long time to provide responses to the EC's Questionnaire, but that this is not uncommon.

He believes that his role is limited and that he can only encourage people to believe that entry into the EU is possible and feasible.

"If the goal of political leaders is to join the EU, then we need to work on this common issue. We have seen earlier that this is sometimes ignored, and such practice should be abandoned," he said.

He stressed that the EU does not impose any solution upon BiH and that they do not have a model, but a set of principles, rules and standards to be met by BiH, just like for any other country that wants to become an EU member.

(FENA)
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