Members of the European Union’s Working Party on the Western Balkans Region (COWEB) will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from 26 until 28 September 2012. The members are diplomats from the embassies of the 27 Member States to the EU.
The three-day visit aims to inform COWEB members about the political and economical situation in the country through meetings with representatives of the local institutions, international community and civil society.
Head of the European Union Delegation/EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, who will host the visit, said that this is one of the ways in which the EU Member States ensure up to date familiarity with the country. He commented:
“Visits such as this show that the EU is dedicated to the European Union perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Brussels representatives of the EU Member States will obtain first hand information about the current situation and EU efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It underlines that the EU wants BiH to move forward in the integration process.”
COWEB members will meet with BiH Minister of Justice, Mr Barisa Colak, BiH Minister of Security, Mr Sadik Ahmetovic, FBiH Prime Minister, BiH Deputy Foreign Minister, Ms. Ana Trisic-Babic, Mr Nermin Niksic, RS Prime Minister, Mr Aleksandar Dzombic, European Integration Committees of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, FBiH Parliament and RS National Assembly as well as representatives of the civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to local authorities, COWEB delegates will meet with High Representative Valentin Inzko, US Ambassador Patrick Moon, and representatives of the OSCE, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. There will also be a briefing at EUFOR Camp Butmir, where they will talk with officers and soldiers from European countries who ensure continued compliance with the provisions of the Dayton Peace Agreement and conduct capacity building and training tasks in support of the BiH Armed Forces.
COWEB is responsible for issues concerning the EU’s relations with the Western Balkans region: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo*. The group deals with both general political and economic development in these countries as well as with the stabilization and association processes and regional co-operation.
*This label does not prejudge the status of Kosovo and is in accordance with Resolution 1244 and the opinion of the ICJ on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.
