Joint declaration on political dialogue between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date: 2003-09-29
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Bosnia and Herzegovina, democratisation, political cooperation, public safety

C 240/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

7.10.2003

JOINT DECLARATION ON POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (1)

(2003/C 240/02)

Based on the commitments undertaken at
the EU-Western
Balkans Summit held in Thessaloniki on 21 June 2003, the
European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter
referred to as
resolution to
reinforce and intensify their mutual relations in the political
fields.

‘the Parties’)

express

their

Accordingly, the Parties agree to establish a regular political
dialogue which will
their
accompany
rapprochement, support the political and economic changes
underway in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and contribute to
establish new forms of cooperation, in particular taking into
account Bosnia and Herzegovina's
status as a potential
candidate for European Union membership.

consolidate

and

the fight against terrorism and organised crime, and in other
areas in the field of justice and home affairs;

5. Enabling each Party to consider the position and interests of
the other Party in their respective decision making process;

6. Enhancing security and stability in the whole of Europe and,
in particular, in South-Eastern Europe, through cooperation
in the areas covered by the Common Foreign and Security
Policy of the European Union.

The political dialogue between the Parties will
through regular
information as appropriate,
formats:

take place
consultations, contacts and exchange of
in the following

in particular

The political dialogue, based on shared values and aspirations,
will aim at:

1. Reinforcing democratic principles and institutions as well as
including the full enjoyment of

respect for human rights,
those rights by persons belonging to national minorities;

2. Promoting regional cooperation, development of good
neighbourly relations and fulfilment of obligations under
international
including full and unequivocal coop-
eration with the ICTY;

law,

3. Facilitating the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the
fullest possible extent into the political and economic main-
stream of Europe based on its
individual merits and
achievements;

4. Increasing convergence of positions between the Parties on
international
issues, and on those matters likely to have
substantial effects on the Parties, including cooperation in

1. High-level meetings between representatives of Bosnia and
Herzegovina on the one hand, and representatives of the
European Union, in the Troika format, on the other;

2. Providing mutual

information on foreign policy decisions
taking full advantage of diplomatic channels,
including
contacts at the bilateral level in third countries as well as
within multilateral fora such as the United Nations, OSCE,
Council of Europe and other international organisations;

3. Contacts at parliamentary level;

4. Any other means which would contribute to consolidating,

and developing dialogue between the Parties;

Political dialogue will also take place within the framework of
the high level multilateral
the EU-Western Balkans Forum,
political
EU-Western Balkans
the
forum established at
Summit held in Thessaloniki.

(1) Text adopted by the Council on 29 September 2003.