Paneuropa Austria Welcomes EU Candidate Status for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kloucek/Haböck: “EU Enlargement of Utmost Geopolitical Importance. Europe Must Actively Safeguard Its Interests!”
Vienna/Brussels. The Paneuropa Movement Austria positively assesses the decision by the General Affairs Council to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina EU candidate status.
“The war against Ukraine has drastically shown Europe that European unity and foreign policy strength are more necessary than ever,” states Rainhard Kloucek, Secretary General of the Paneuropa Movement Austria.
Because: There is no political vacuum. If the EU is not interested in Southeast Europe, non-European powers immediately fill this gap. Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, for example, have repeatedly demonstrated this, particularly in the Balkans.
“EU enlargement is not an end in itself, but one of the EU’s most important geopolitical instruments,” says Stefan Haböck, Paneuropa Vice-President, emphasising that “especially in a sensitive environment like Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EU must show genuine interest to enable stability and positive development for the country.”
The Paneuropa Movement Austria also calls on all political leaders in Southeast Europe to view reforms as an opportunity for citizens and to implement them quickly. In return, EU member states must honour commitments, such as visa liberalisation for Kosovo.
