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The strategic commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the European Union, proved through the accession request dating back three years ago, "should be translated" in tangible results, including in the areas of the rule of law, freedom of speech and anti-radicalism fight, Minister-delegate for European Affairs George Ciamba stated on Tuesday in the European Parliament.
Ciamba spoke in the European Parliament in the opening of the plenary sitting dedicated to the 2018 report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) regarding Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Minister-delegate delivered a speech in the context in which Romania is holding the Presidency of the EU Council.
Minister Ciamba highlighted that, after the elections which took place in this country in 2018, "the Council expects Bosnia and Herzegovina to get involved constructively in what means the formation of the government, at all levels, in the interest of all the citizens, so that the country can go on the European path."
Ciamba pointed out that, Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession request to the EU of 2016, "represents a strategic commitment to move forward to the EU, but it should be translated in tangible results, on the field.: "These results cannot be achieved without functional institutions," he stated.
The Minister-delegate talked about the approval some reforms oriented toward the EU, but also about "the concerns that a lot of time has been lost on rhetoric and pre-electoral campaign."
"This aspect significantly slowed-down the pace of the reforms. A number of high-priority areas remain uncovered. More efforts are needed in terms of inclusive social-economic reforms and in terms of the rule of law reforms, including the fight against corruption and organised crime, public administration, the fight against radicalism and terrorism, as well as the improvement of collaboration at all the government levels," Ciamba stated.
Furthermore, Ciamba also talked about the concerns related to the lack of progress in the area of free speech and media freedom.
"We expect Bosnia and Herzegovina to address this situation," the official stated. Moreover, when referring to the ethnic component of the soil of the ex-Yugoslav country, Ciamba also talked about the "non-discrimination and equality" principles.
