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BRUSSELS, October 1 (FENA) - Bosnia and Herzegovina has a significant opportunity to catch up and keep pace with other candidates for membership in the European Union. The period ahead should be utilized for a substantial step towards full membership in the Union, stated Davor Ivo Stier, the newly elected chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with BiH and Kosovo, in an interview with FENA.
The Croatian MEP emphasizes that the climate in Europe towards enlargement has changed, and BiH should take advantage of this chance.
"It is paradoxical that it is precisely Russia's aggression against Ukraine that has brought the issue of enlargement back to the forefront, and there is now genuine goodwill regarding the success of this process. A lot depends on BiH, which must implement all necessary reforms along this path, but our delegation will contribute to keeping the issue of BiH's candidacy on the agenda in European institutions and will work with colleagues from BiH to ensure the success of this process," Stier stated.
According to him, there is a growing awareness within the EU that enlargement has an important geopolitical dimension.
"This relates to Ukraine's candidacy but also to the unfinished business in the western Balkans, which must not become a hole in the continent but must be integrated into the EU. Today, in the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission, you can feel the rising awareness that this needs to be done. Each candidate country is expected to do its part. It must be a partnership, but there is certainly an awakened awareness that enlargement is a crucial tool for the EU to build a new infrastructure of peace, stability, and prosperity in the western Balkans," concluded Davor Ivo Stier in his statement for FENA.
He also announced the arrival of a European Parliament observation mission to BiH to monitor the upcoming local elections, with a meeting of the joint committee of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH expected to take place at the end of October.
Davor Ivo Stier is an experienced Croatian politician and diplomat. He was elected to the European Parliament on the HDZ list and has previously served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.
(FENA) A. B.
