INTERVIEW: Dimitris Kourkoulas, Head of the EC Delegation
Bosnia and Herzegovina meets the Europe Day, May 9, waiting the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. The Head of the European Commission Delegation in BiH, Dimitris Kourkoulas, in interview for the “Dnevni avaz”, on the occasion of the Europe Day, points out that “the most important thing is that BiH can be certain that the SAA will be signed”.
If you ask me when it will be signed, it is a matter of few weeks. I do not think there is too much difference in that. The most important thing for BiH is to focus now on full implementation of that agreement. That will be very important criterion for further integration of BiH towards full membership in the EU – said Kourkoulas.
Evaluation of capacities
According to his words, 12-18 months after the signing of the SAA will be “crucial for BiH”, because on the basis of those there could be “evaluation of the BiH capacities to face challenges of the EU membership” made.
Is BiH ready to apply the Agreement? We are ready to sign, but will we be able to apply it in full?
That is very comprehensive agreement; we do not expect that any country can implement it at once, but with good political will, that is not impossible. BiH, administration and political structure and society as a whole, can do it. That is difficult road, but association process is not the easy one, we in other countries felt it as well. All those sacrifices and toils are not for Brussels to be satisfied, but for the benefit of the citizens and for the future of the country.
No country which signed the Agreement ever quit or fell off the European road, many of them are already members of the EU. Can this agreement be seen as a written guarantee that BiH will become the EU member?
No, it would be wrong to interpret that signing the Agreement guarantees the full membership. For that, there is no guarantee to anybody at all, but the fact that all the countries which started the talks on the membership and before that signed the Agreement and reached the end of that road means two things. First, that we are not leaving you, we are here to help you with that. And second, that all the countries in association process saw the benefit from that process. But, there is no automatism and there are no shortcuts or bypasses to skip the conditions or steps which every country has to pass.
Do you think that it is possible that BiH submits a request for candidate status, or membership by the end of this year?
It is early to talk about that. Reasonable period of implementation of the SAA is needed, and then we can start talking about the next steps. First you have to prove that you are capable to implement the SAA, but that in the end is the move of the domestic authorities. If they would ask me for advice, I would tell them not to rush, because in that case their request might be less grounded and credible.
Important challenge
Few weeks ago the police reform was the priority for BiH. But, what is it now, when we have the SAA in our hand? Are those the constitutional reforms?
Implementation of the SAA is now the priority, it concerns all the citizens of BiH, it is not only for diplomats and senior officials. That is the question of agriculture, domestic trade… That is a very important challenge which will bring also certain political stability and firm legal framework for economy. I expect that it will give signal to companies to increase investments in BiH.
Can we expect that after the trade agreement the big companies will come to trade and invest in BiH?
Decisions of big companies are made on the basis of numerous invoices, but I know from experience that stability of legal framework and a fact that in some period they can work here under the same conditions as on EU market of 500 million people, will give a positive signal. With that, it will be necessary in BiH to improve the infrastructure, overall economy. When BiH becomes a candidate and a member, it will have an access to larger funds which could be used for big infrastructure projects. There I mean roads, highways, railroad, energy.
Visa regime
Serbia received a roadmap for removal of visa regime. When will BiH receive the instructions what needs to be done in order to abolish visa for BH citizens who travel to the EU?
I know that Commissioner Jacques Barrot works on opening a dialogue, but we still do not have a date when that will happen. That is not related with the date of signing the Agreement. I know that his associates are working on organizing it and I think that he will come very soon and open that dialogue with BiH.