The European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn presented today at the AFET session the Enlargement Package 2018.
Hahn explained that the Enlargement Package actually assessed the current political situation in the EU membership candidate-states and potential candidates and measured the progress made in reforms implementation, particularly in economic reform, reform in the filed of rule of law, fight against corruption and organised crime and market competition.
Furthermore, Hahn pointed out that the Enlargement Package should not be viewed as a “pro forma” report, but as a tool for strengthening stability in the EU’s closest neighbourhood. The published EU Enlargement Strategy of the Commission was an impetus in building a positive image of the Western Balkans in the context of prospective EU membership and in speeding up the pace of enlargement, what was clearly reflected in the Commission’s Recommendation to the Council on opening accession negotiations with Macedonia and Albania.
Member of the European Parliament Željana Zovko participated in the debate and reflected on the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“What will be the response of the Commission to a probable government shutdown in BiH after the October elections as a direct consequence of a lack of compromise on the Election Law, after the Bosniak political parties proposed a solution which did not meet the decision of the Constitutional Court? Considering the recent testimony by Matthew Palmer, the assistant to the US State Secretary for Europe and Eurasia in the American Congress, the US State Department has obviously realised that.“ – asked Zovko.
Commissioner Hahn replied that the BiH political leaders were responsible for agreeing on a political solution, acceptable for all peoples in BiH and capable of speeding up the BiH accession path to the EU. He added that the EU would additionally engage in looking for a sustainable solution of this problem, if invited by the BiH politicians.