Slovenian, Bulgarian FMs in Sarajevo

Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov visited Sarajevo on Monday. They said they would relay the message the EU is interested in Bosnia-Herzegovina in their meetings with members of the Bosnia Presidency and political leaders, but that Bosnia also needs to send a signal the EU is in its strategic interest and that its political leaders are willing to prove this through their actions. Slovenian, Bulgarian FMs in Sarajevo On the sidelines of the conference dubbed Parliament for Europe, dedicated to public administration reform, Zbogar stressed that the EU is interested in Bosnia, that the EU has an interest in forming closer ties with Bosnia and that it is re-evaluating its assistance to Bosnia with a tendency to strengthening its presence in order to accelerate Bosnia's European integration. However, it is not good that Bosnia is treading water. Status quo means moving backwards, while the region is moving forward. Time is running out, we need to get to work, Zbogar said. According to Sarajevo portals, he said that local politicians need to adopt a plan to ensure a future for Bosnia in the EU. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mladenov said that the joint visit shows Bulgaria and Slovenia, as Bosnia's neighbors, have direct interest in its progress. We want to see the entire Western Balkans integrated into the EU, but there is concern the region will lose priority status due to events elsewhere in the world, he warned. Mladenov believes that the people of Bosnia need to have a shared vision. This does not mean a centralized state, but functional institutions which will be able to lead the country toward the EU, Mladenov said, noting he will talk with parties which have the responsibility and mandate to form the government. Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger was due to visit Sarajevo together with Zbogar and Mladenov, but he canceled due to illness.

Slovenian, Bulgarian FMs in Sarajevo

On the sidelines of the conference dubbed Parliament for Europe, dedicated to public administration reform, Žbogar stressed that the EU is interested in Bosnia, that the EU has an interest in forming closer ties with Bosnia and that it is re-evaluating its assistance to Bosnia with a tendency to strengthening its presence in order to accelerate Bosnia's European integration.

However, it is not good that Bosnia is treading water. Status quo means moving backwards, while the region is moving forward. Time is running out, we need to get to work, Žbogar said.

According to Sarajevo portals, he said that local politicians need to adopt a plan to ensure a future for Bosnia in the EU.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mladenov said that the joint visit shows Bulgaria and Slovenia, as Bosnia's neighbors, have direct interest in its progress.

We want to see the entire Western Balkans integrated into the EU, but there is concern the region will lose priority status due to events elsewhere in the world, he warned.

Mladenov believes that the people of Bosnia need to have a shared vision. This does not mean a centralized state, but functional institutions which will be able to lead the country toward the EU, Mladenov said, noting he will talk with parties which have the responsibility and mandate to form the government.

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger was due to visit Sarajevo together with Žbogar and Mladenov, but he canceled due to illness.