Benelux Leaders Address Bosnia & Herzegovina EU Membership in Sarajevo

On Thursday 13 September 2018, the Foreign Ministers of the three Benelux countries travelled to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina for a joint working visit.

The Benelux delegation was led by Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, who currently chairs the Benelux Union Committee of Ministers, as well as Luxembourg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Jean Asselborn and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Stef Blok. This joint working visit provided an opportunity to address a wide range of issues and provided an update on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the reform process and the request for EU membership, as well as the latest regional developments.

The Benelux foreign ministers were received in audience by the representative collegial presidency of the three "constituent peoples" and had a working meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Crndak, in addition to meetings with the High Representative of the International Community for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, the OSCE Head of Mission, Bruce G. Berton, and the Western Balkans Coordinator of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Peter Van der Auweraert. The ministers also met with representatives of non-governmental organisations and Bosnian civil society.

"This joint visit in Benelux format reflects our common desire to continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on the path of reform," commented Jean Asselborn, stating that "there are still many challenges to overcome" .

Stressing the mutually beneficial effects of the EU accession process the ministers also jointly insisted the importance for the country of continuing and accelerating efforts to implement the reform agenda in key areas, including social justice and the rule of law, the fight against corruption and the strengthening of the judicial system.

The Benelux Foreign Ministers also discussed with the Bosnian authorities the importance of the general elections of 7 October and renewed their support for "Bosnia and Herzegovina as a united and sovereign State, multi-ethnic, stable prosperous and enjoying full territorial integrity", before concluding with the hope that, in light of the latest regional developments following the results of the recent Sofia summit, confirmation of the European destiny of the Western Balkan countries will contribute to further strengthening regional cooperation among these regions.