On Thursday in Sarajevo, Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussed bilateral cooperation and the EU integration of Bosnia-Herzegovina with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, according to a statement published on the Bosnian government’s website.
According to the document, Krišto emphasized the good cooperation between the two friendly countries and welcomed the work of the Joint Economic Commission between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary, noting that there is significant space and demand for increasing bilateral trade. The Bosnian politician expressed gratitude to Viktor Orbán and Hungarian diplomacy for their firm and unequivocal support for Sarajevo’s European path.
She added that the decision of the European Council is a reaffirmation of the mutual friendship between Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and of the efforts that have resulted in meeting the necessary level of EU membership conditions. She indicated that with the opening of accession negotiations, Bosnia-Herzegovina has embarked on a new chapter in Europe’s future, but there is still much work ahead that requires intensive effort.
Krišto expressed criticism over the intervention of Christian Schmidt, the international community’s High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina*, which she suggested significantly complicates adherence to European norms and practices. ‘It is very important that every solution, not only the electoral law, which is a particularly important issue for Bosnia-Herzegovina, but also everything else, should be the result of internal dialogue and agreement within institutional frameworks, respecting democratic principles and the rule of law,’ Krišto emphasized.
The Bosnian leader highlighted the need to continue focusing on reforms and the path towards European integration, with simultaneous strengthening of institutions and democratic processes, to ensure Bosnia-Herzegovina’s enduring stability and prosperity.
At the end of the meeting, she pointed out the need to continue good economic cooperation between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary, especially in the field of entrepreneurship.
Last year, Viktor Orbán stated during a press conference following his meeting with the President of Republika Srpska in Bosnia Milorad Dodik, that Hungary has a sovereign foreign policy and supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s swift European Union accession. Orbán emphasised: Hungary has its own position, which in some areas aligns with that of the European Union whereas in others it does not. The PM criticised the slow progress of the European Union regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession process. He stated that according to Hungarian foreign policy, the EU’s financial convergence funds should be given to the countries that it wants to see catch up with the Union before the countries achieve membership.
Following this, in March this year the European Commission proposed to the Council, which comprises of the governments of the member states, to commence accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The President of the Commission stated during the plenary session of the European Parliament that the Western Balkan country has become fully aligned with EU foreign and security policies within a year.
* Christian Schmidt, who oversees the continued implementation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s peace deal, has recently imposed a new set of changes to the country’s election law, apparently aimed at ensuring free elections and preventing vote-rigging.
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