The Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, and the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, signed the Interstate Agreement on Border Crossings between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia in Sarajevo, saying that it will facilitate the movement of people and goods, but also further strengthen relations between the two countries.
Kristo said that this is a “big event for all of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, stressing that Croatia continuously provides support to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“His arrival and his continued support for everything we do in Bosnia and Herzegovina is proof of our good mutual relations, partnership and even friendship,” said Krišto.
An important document for traffic and economy
Speaking about the signed contract, Kristo emphasized that it has great practical significance.
“It is a document that is extremely important both for the traffic of passengers and goods, as well as for our mutual relations, for overall economic relations and for the competitiveness of the economy,” she said.
She added that the contract is not just a formality.
“This document is not just formal, it is not some administrative document. It is a substantive document,” said Kristo.
According to her, the contract was worked on for almost two years through the teams of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of Croatia.
More crossings for goods
Kristo explained that according to the previous agreement, there were only two BIP crossings, Bijača and Gradiška, while the new agreement significantly expands the possibilities.
“Now, according to the new contract, we have five border crossings for inspection of goods that are subject to all inspections,” said Krišto.
She stated that Svilaj, Izačić and Kamensko are among them, and added that the agreement also defines crossing points for international road and rail traffic, as well as those that enable the local border population to cross the border more easily.
“According to this agreement, everyone received a recategorization, that is, a higher category,” she pointed out.
Plenković: Great step forward
Plenković called the signing of the contract “a great step forward”.
“This level of facilitating the movement of people and goods between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will take on a completely new dimension based on this agreement,” he said.
He reminded that until now only two crossings had the highest category.
“Until now, we have only had two crossings of the highest category. Now that situation is completely changing,” Plenković said.
He stated that the regime that existed at the Stara Gradiška – Gradiška and Nova Sela – Bijača crossings is now expanding to a total of five, or six border crossings in the transitional period.
Trade, tourism and investments
The Croatian Prime Minister assessed that the new regime will help the further development of economic cooperation.
“We are looking forward to the fact that this new situation with border crossings, I am convinced, will enable further progress in economic and trade exchange,” Plenković said.
He reminded that the trade between the two countries last year reached “a maximum of four billion euros”, and that Croatia was visited by around 650,000 tourists from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“There are large investments by Croatian companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also increasing investments by Bosnian companies in Croatia,” he said.
The European way and the electoral law
Krišto thanked Croatia for its support for BiH’s European path, but also warned of challenges within the country.
“There are no shortcuts on the way to the European Union,” said Kristo, adding that BiH needs reforms above all.
She also mentioned the election law, stating that it is an issue that Bosnia and Herzegovina must solve “first of all for us in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, but also because of obligations on the European path.
Plenković said that a new space for expansion has opened up in the EU.
“These windows will not be open for a long time, but they will be open from time to time,” he said, adding that BiH’s current atmosphere should be used for consensus and progress.
He also spoke about the equality of Croats in BiH, saying that Croatia wants “Croats, as the smallest constituent nation, to be completely equal.”
Southern Interconnection
One of the topics was the Southern Gas Interconnection. Kristo emphasized the importance of the recently concluded agreement in Dubrovnik, while Plenković said that the project carries an important geostrategic message.
“In this way, first of all, we would send the message of the end of dependence on the procurement and supply of Russian gas for Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Plenković said.
He added that Croatia is ready to do its part to help BiH’s energy security and economic development, he writes N1 BiH.
