Zovko: Bosnia and Herzegovina must show political will to utilize European funds

Brussels, (Fena) – Member of the European Parliament and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Željana Zovko expressed concern on Thursday about the lack of political will in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which prevents access to funds from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and hinders the full utilization of IPA III funds.

Zovko, in her address at the seventh meeting of the Strategic Board of the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF), expressed regret that Bosnia and Herzegovina is still not taking full advantage of IPA III, nor can it access more than one billion euros from the Instrument for Reforms and Growth, precisely due to, as she says, the absence of political compromise and agreement on the reform agenda.

She also emphasized the importance of strengthening capacities and providing technical assistance to the countries of the Western Balkans, from national to local levels, so that they can fully utilize all available resources provided by the EU and its partners. Ensuring that all levels of government are adequately prepared will be crucial for maximizing the impact of EU aid and promoting sustainable development in the region, the Press Office of the European People’s Party reported.

– In the current geopolitical context, the stability and security of the Western Balkans mean stability and security for the entire European continent, and maintaining stable partnerships with the countries of the Western Balkans is of key importance. We must continue to provide targeted pre-accession support while simultaneously respecting the principles of conditionality – concluded Zovko, who participates in the Strategic Board as an observer from the European Parliament, given her role in the negotiations on the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) and as the rapporteur of the EPP Group in the Committee on Foreign Affairs for the Instrument for Reforms and Growth for the Western Balkans.

The Strategic Board was chaired by the Republic of Croatia, and alongside representatives of the European Commission and member states, the meeting also included bilateral donors, partners from the Western Balkans, and representatives of leading financial institutions. (25.04.)