13/03/2015 President
Speaking at the end of her official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (11-13 March), PACE President Anne Brasseur welcomed the commitment of all institutions and political stakeholders to the European agenda. “In all my discussions I could feel the broad consensus of all actors of society around reforms and European integration. I am encouraged by the fact that an agreement now seems to have been reached about the formation of governments at the State level as well as in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The political stakeholders must now shoulder their responsibilities, be ready for compromise in the interests of all citizens, and agree on a reform agenda,” stressed Anne Brasseur.
“The approval of the EU integration declaration by the Presidency, the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and the main political parties has created a positive political momentum. This opportunity should be seized to implement a comprehensive reform agenda, including with a view to fulfilling the outstanding commitments and obligations to the Council of Europe, in particular, the judgments of the ECHR in the Sejdic and Finci and Zornic cases,” stressed Anne Brasseur. “The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina expect and deserve progress. It is now time to deliver. The authorities can count on the Council of Europe to support this process, in particular within the recently approved Action Plan” emphasized PACE President.
Turning to the forthcoming chairmanship of Bosnia and Herzegovina of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, PACE President expressed support to the proposed activities and encouraged the authorities to seek synergies with regional partners. “The fact that during this year Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are chairing, respectively, the Council of Europe and the OSCE offers an ideal opportunity to bring a regional dimension to the action of our Organisations in addressing Pan-European challenges, such as counteracting manifestations of extremism, promoting living together, inter-cultural dialogue and its religious dimension, as well as fostering democratic participation of youth,” stressed Anne Brasseur.
“I am looking forward to meeting the authorities again in the margins of the Bureau and Standing Committee meetings which will be held in Sarajevo on 21-22 May 2015, in order to discuss concrete support the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly could provide in the implementation of the reform agenda,” concluded PACE President.
During her visit, she met the members of the Presidency, the members of the Collegiums of the House of Representatives and of the House of Peoples, members of the Council of Ministries, various parliamentary Committees, the Bosnia and Herzegovina delegation to PACE as well as representatives of the international and diplomatic community. She also gave a lecture to students at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo.