Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic met Swedish Minister for the European Union Affairs Jessika Roswall in Sarajevo on Monday, stressing on this occasion that the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the European Union and that this was a topic discussed with Sweden's senior official.

The two ministers also spoke about the large community of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina currently living and working in Sweden.

“We discussed the large community of the Bosnians and Herzegovinians who are integrated in Sweden and who live and work there. They unfortunately left their country and luckily they arrived in a friendly country, using opportunities and becoming a significant part of the community. This link with Sweden is making our relations better,” he stressed.

F.Z./N1

F.Z./N1

Roswall's visit comes days after Bosnia and Herzegovina got a green light for the opening of the accession talks with the EU. According to Konakovic, Sweden offered its assistance in the process that follows.

“Sweden and some other countries offered a specific help in the following steps because what is lying ahead of us once we adopt the negotiating framework, the screening process, are some serious steps of our obligations. It will be much easier to have those who know how to do it next to us and to pass that road as fast as possible,” said Konakovic.

Roswall congratulated the country for the step made on the EU path, noting that her visit comes at the right moment.

“You showed the commitment to your European path through a few new laws. You seized the opportunity,” the minister said in a press ocnference, stressing that providing the results will help keep the momentum.

She reaffirmed the support of Sweden to Bosnia's European path, noting that her country is both politically and financially the biggest bilateral donor of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The pace of advancing towards the EU depends solely on you, Roswall stressed.

“I will repeat what (European Commission President) Ursula von der Leyen said when she was here in January – it is in hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take the path that you accepted and do not let anything make you get off the track. Your place is in the European family,” she underlined.

Asked if it is possible for Bosnia to become a member state considering the strong international presence – the foreign judges and the Office of the High Representative as well as the EU peacekeeping forces, she replied it is possible.

“When we granted Bosnia and Herzegovina the candidate status in December 2022 and now that the European Council decided to open the membership negotiations, of course it says you can become a member state. But there are many reforms lying ahead of you. Under the various criteria we will be following the plans through the EU Delegation. Yes, it is possible,” she said.