UNITED KINGDOM FULLY SUPPORTS BOSNIA'S BID TO EU MEMBERSHIP

LONDON, UK (December 5,2008) - The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its support to Bosnia'S aspirations to the membership of the European Union following the visit of Bosnian State Presidency member Dr.Haris Silajdzic to the UK.

Dr.Silajdzic met UK Minister for Europe, Caroline Flint in London yesterday to discuss developments in the political situation in Bosnia.

During the meeting Ms.Flint and Dr. Silajdzic discussed progress on key reforms, and the challenges Bosnia continues to face, according to a FCO announcement.

But Flint also expressed concerns at the lack of progress in key areas and urged politicians on all sides to uphold the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement and to engage constructively with each other in order to achieve further reform progress.

Bosnia signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU on June 16 this year which is one of the first steps in the process towards membership of the European Union.

This year’s Commission Progress Report released last month which examines Bosnia’s work on key pre‑accession reforms, states that Bosnia “has made limited progress in addressing political criteria in line with the EU Partnership.”

These political criteria include democracy and rule of law, public administration reform, reform of the judicial system and protection of human rights and minorities.

Dr Silajdzic endorsed the initiative of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of UK and Czech Republic, related to the engagement of the EU member countries in Bosnia. During his meeting with UK Minister for EU Caroline Flint, Dr Silajdzic stressed that it was particularly important to reinforce engagement of international community in the period ahead, when discussions about the new Bosnian Constitution will be intensified.
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