Nezavisne novine: SARAJEVO – The Council of Ministers of BiH for several months now is unsuccessfully trying to establish European integrations units within the state ministries and administrations, because there is no agreement on their manner of functioning and coordination, confirmed Osman Topčagić, director of the Directorate for European Integrations of BiH.
“There is a full political consensus that our capacities need to be strengthened for the process of European integrations by establishing special units within the ministries and administrations. However, there are different views on the manner of functioning and coordination of the units which are supposed to be established soon”, said Topčagić.
Establishment of these units was also the practice in the countries which in the last few years became the EU members and candidates for the EU. The task of the units is coordination of activities on fulfillment of conditions for association with the EU in the areas which are within the competencies of the given ministry or administration.
“Formally we have a European coordinator in every ministry and administration. Those are secretaries of the ministries, and managers of the administrations. That is not enough because many more people are needed, who will be in charge of coordination of implementation of the conditions, pre-accession funds etc.”, clarified Topčagić.
The Government of the RS already formed units for European integrations. The same should soon be done by the Government of the FBiH as well.
“I believe that the Council of Ministers of BiH will very soon adopt a decision on establishment of the units for European integrations. Certain consultations need to take place in order to amend already prepared decision”, said Aleksandar Obradović, adviser of the chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH.