Statement on behalf of the European Union delivered by H.E. Ambassador Stanislav Raščan, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the OSCE
The European Union would like to draw the attention of the Permanent Council to Conclusions issued by the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union on 16 June on the signature of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement and of an Interim Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council welcomed the signature of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and of the Interim Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina as an important step on the country's path towards the EU. It looked forward to intensifying cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina through the comprehensive framework offered by these Agreements and the other mechanisms of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
The Council highlighted the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina establishing a sustained and effective track record in implementing these Agreements. The Council encouraged all the political forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina to unite their efforts to pursue with strong determination its reform agenda including the priorities set out in the European Partnership.
The candidate countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate countries Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, the European Free Trade Association country and member of the European Economic Area Norway, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia align themselves with this statement.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process
