Zovko: Bosnia and Herzegovina Needs Political Will to Leverage European Funding

Brussels, (Fena) – Željana Zovko, a Member of the European Parliament and a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, voiced her concerns on Thursday regarding the lack of political will in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This issue is obstructing access to funds from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and impeding the effective use of IPA III funds.

During her remarks at the seventh meeting of the Strategic Board of the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF), Zovko expressed disappointment that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not fully capitalizing on IPA III. Additionally, she pointed out that the country is unable to access over one billion euros from the Instrument for Reforms and Growth due to a lack of political consensus and agreement on necessary reforms.

She stressed the need to enhance capacities and offer technical assistance to Western Balkan nations, from the national down to local levels, to ensure they can effectively utilize all resources provided by the EU and its partners. Proper preparation across all levels of government is essential for maximizing EU aid’s impact and fostering sustainable development in the region, as reported by the Press Office of the European People’s Party.

– In the current geopolitical climate, the stability and security of the Western Balkans are crucial for the entire European continent. Thus, maintaining strong partnerships with these countries is paramount. We must continue to offer targeted pre-accession support, while also upholding the principles of conditionality, – concluded Zovko, who is participating in the Strategic Board as an observer from the European Parliament, given her involvement in negotiations related to the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) and her role as the rapporteur for the EPP Group in the Committee on Foreign Affairs concerning the Instrument for Reforms and Growth for the Western Balkans.

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


Comments

5 responses to “Zovko: Bosnia and Herzegovina Needs Political Will to Leverage European Funding”

  1. mad rascal Avatar
    mad rascal

    So, let me get this straight—Bosnia and Herzegovina has over a billion euros waiting for them, yet the political consensus is as elusive as a decent cup of coffee in a motorway service station? 🤔 Brilliant! If only they could harness as much energy for reform as they do for endless meetings! 🍵💸

  2. taffy duchess Avatar
    taffy duchess

    Oh, look at that, Bosnia and Herzegovina missing out on a billion euros because of political squabbling—who would have thought? 🤷‍♂️ Maybe they should start a GoFundMe for a decent consensus, eh? 🍻

  3. Athena Star Avatar
    Athena Star

    Imagine being able to tap into over a billion euros but deciding to just sit on your hands instead—classic Bosnian strategy, innit? 🙄 While they’re busy polishing their political will, the rest of Europe is twiddling its thumbs, wondering when the lights will finally come on! 💸

  4. digital moonshine Avatar
    digital moonshine

    Oh, sure, why bother with a billion euros when you can just sit around and debate the finer points of political will? 🤷‍♂️ It’s not like investment and development are important or anything… just a casual stroll through red tape, innit? 😏💸

  5. PepperBurst Avatar
    PepperBurst

    Politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina really know how to throw a “fund” party, don’t they? 🎉 With over a billion euros waiting at the door, it seems they prefer to play hide and seek instead of making reforms—classic Balkans, eh? 😏💸

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