Madam President,
I would first like to welcome the first day of the British presidency.
Madam President,
Since 2004, the European Union has played a fundamental role for the stability and security of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the region, with the EUFOR-ALTHEA operation. It does so on behalf of the international community, in accordance with the Dayton-Paris agreement and by decision of the Security Council.
The operation, in which France is fully committed, showed that it played an essential role in guaranteeing a secure environment, reassuring the population and deterring potential destabilizing actors, in a context marked by persistent political tensions and by worrying provocations.
We therefore welcome the unanimous adoption today by the Council of resolution 2757 (2024), which renews its mandate for a period of 12 months.
Regarding the civil aspect, France recalls that it supports the mandate of the High Representative.
Madam President,
France expresses its full solidarity with Bosnia-Herzegovina following the serious floods and landslides that hit the country on October 3.
France welcomes the holding of local elections on October 6 despite these dramatic events. It notes that, according to the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission, these elections were competitive and managed effectively, despite a number of shortcomings observed.
France, as witness to the Dayton-Paris agreements, firmly supports the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina. We remain very concerned by the initiatives of the authorities of Republika Srpska, which threaten the unity, constitutional order, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, principles at the heart of the Dayton-Paris agreements.
Madam President,
France is convinced that the future of Bosnia-Herzegovina, like the entire Western Balkans, lies in the European Union. The decision taken by the European Council to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 21, 2024 was a clear signal in this regard. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a unique opportunity to move forward in its EU accession process. France calls on the Bosnian authorities to work together to implement the eight key measures and move forward on the appointment of a chief negotiator, in order to advance Bosnia and Herzegovina in its accession process to the European Union, for the benefit of all its citizens.
