
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.)













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