Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle and Commissioner for Health and Consumers Tonio Borg welcomed the signature of three important bilateral agreements between the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brussels today. The signature took place in the framework of the third Trilateral Ministerial meeting on border management issues in the light of the forthcoming accession of Croatia into the EU.
The Joint Interpretative Note on the Neum/Ploče Agreement, the Border Crossing Point Agreement and the Local Border Traffic Agreement are fundamental for the smooth implementation of border management rules of the EU after the accession of Croatia. The agreements were signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vesna Pusić on Croatian side and on the side of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Chairman of the Council of Ministers Vjekoslav Bevanda and Minister of Foreign Affairs Zlatko Lagumdžija.
Commissioner Füle underlined that these agreements are a historical milestone in the EU integration process of the Western Balkan countries.
In less than 2 weeks, the EU will be the direct neighbor of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country will benefit from the EU, now that it comes so close. The common market of the EU with more than 500 million inhabitants will be at the door of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This means great opportunities for all citizens and for the economy of the country.
The EU has been able to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina a special transit regime for the export of agricultural products of animal origin from Bosnia and Herzegovina to third countries through the port of Ploče. Such derogations are extremely rare. They will allow the country to continue to use the port of Ploče in Croatia for its agri-food sector.
Commissioner Füle and Commissioner Borg reminded Bosnia and Herzegovina to transpose EU legislation and to set up the necessary administrative control structures to allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to export its agricultural products of animal origin to the EU, including Croatia.
Commissioner Füle encouraged Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue working with the good spirit of mutually acceptable solutions, in order also for Bosnia and Herzegovina to make considerable progress on its EU integration path.
To read the full speech of the Commissioner Füle at the signing ceremony, click here
