Speeches

Let me begin by welcoming Ms Semiha Borovac, who has taken over as the State Coordinator for Public Administration Reform since the Parliament for Europe last discussed this key component of the European integration agenda.

I believe we are seeing a coalescence of opinion among policymakers – in Brussels, in EU member states and in the region – on how to make the EU’s political and financial investment in Southeast Europe as effective and beneficial as possible.

Let me begin by saying what a pleasure it is to participate in the first session of the “Parliament for Europe” in 2011. In addition to the Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency, Mr. Radmanovic, today’s gathering brings together representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and [...]

Relations among the Western Balkan states have improved during 2010 to such a degree that I do not think it an exaggeration to speak of an ongoing process of regional reconciliation in the Balkans.

As many of you may know, last year, during a visit by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the Yunus Emre cultural centre was opened in Sarajevo. This was the first in a series of centres which the Yunus Emre Foundation plans to operate outside Turkey.

This year has been remarkable in the history of Southeast Europe. Countries that were mired for decades in mistrust and hostility took serious steps towards rapprochement. In the beginning these steps were tentative, but very quickly a positive momentum developed.

Bosnia and Herzegovina currently benefits from the most open, friendly and positive relations with its neighbours since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, nearly fifteen years ago.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity today to present my fourth report as High Representative and the 38th report altogether. I hope my presentation will give you a better understanding of the overall situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we now stand, and what challenges we will be facing in the period ahead.

Let me begin by saying what a pleasure it is to be back at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. I had an opportunity to take part in a meeting here in August last year and I look forward this afternoon to continuing the discussion that we began then.

I have had several opportunities in the past to take part in seminars organised by the Bled School, and I am always happy to do this. The bulk of my time and my colleagues’ time is taken up with political issues – yet our efforts will not succeed if we work in a vacuum. Progress has to be made on several fronts – and one of the key areas where prog [...]