Bosnian Foreign Minister Bisera Turkovic has called the decision of European Commission to recommend the candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina “historic” and stressed that this is a message for all citizens that their future is within the European family.

“This is a strong message to the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina that we hoped for earlier, that our future lies within the European family. We welcome the efforts of the EU member states to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status, which would encourage reforms and the fulfillment of the necessary conditions before the opening of the accession talks,” said Turkovic, adding that the revival of this process is of “vital importance” both for the citizens and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as for the stabilisation of the entire region.

Speakinng of the progress that the country made on the EU path, the minister expressed content over the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina significantly advanced in aligning its foreign policy with that of the EU, and increased the degree of harmonising its stances with the stances of the EU.

“Despite the pressures and attempts to prevent an absolutely legal and well-founded joining of the EU positions, we managed, with the support of BiH Presidency Chairman Sefik Dzaferovic and Presidency member Zeljko Komsic, to significantly harmonise our foreign policy with the EU, especially with regard to the situation in Ukraine. This is a confirmation that our efforts are visible and in the interest of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and certainly contributed to the positive opinion of the European Commission on candidate status,” said Turkovic.