Slobodnik Confirms Slovakia's Support to Bosnia to Join EU and NATO

Bratislava, February 24 (TASR) – Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry State Secretary Igor Slobodnik met with Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Deputy Minister Josip Brkic on Wednesday, the Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry press department told TASR on the same day.

At their meeting, Slobodnik congratulated Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on having submitted its application for EU membership on February 15. According to the ministry, the country considers it an important step in terms of fulfilling its Euro-Atlantic ambitions.

“I believe that the submission of the application to the EU will have a stimulating effect for even faster-paced development of Bosnia and Herzegovina vis-a-vis the European Union,” said Slobodnik.

Slobodnik assured Brkic on Slovakia’s support for BiH’s efforts and Slovakia’s readiness to help the country also in the context of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of the year.

On the agenda there were also security and political issues regarding BiH’s interest in joining NATO and the accompanying application of its Membership Action Plan (MAP).

According to the ministry, Slobodnik and Brkic assessed Slovak-Bosnian bilateral relations as excellent.