Statement by the EU Delegation/EUSR on adaptation of the trade regime with Bosnia and Herzegovina

EUD/EUSR spokesperson Andy McGuffie said:

“The negotiating teams of BiH and of the European Commission discussed on 25 June the adaptation of the EU-BiH bilateral trade regime in light of the accession of Croatia to the EU. While BiH is aiming at a general review of concessions, the Commission focuses on the purely technical adaptation of the EU-BiH trade agreement on the basis of the traditional trade of BiH and Croatia. BiH and the Commission approximated their positions on sugar, wine and fish. A final agreement was not reached.

“An agreement on the adaptation of the concessions of all other agricultural products is outstanding, in particular with regard to the imports to BiH from the future EU of 28 Member States. BiH argues that it is necessary to protect its agri-food sector, above all with regard to milk and dairy products, since the country will not be allowed to export its related products to the EU, in particular to Croatia. However this is because of the persisting inability of BiH to adjust its legislative framework to the EU food safety and veterinary standards and to set up clear administrative control structures. The Commission will inform the Council of the European Union, where a decision will be taken.”

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