During the EP Plenary session (13-16/02) in Strasbourg, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and Demetris PAPADAKIS (S&amp;D, CY) debate on 2016 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results from the vote on the Preda report are: 496 in favour, 132 against, 67 abstention. The resolution is adotped.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

Enlargement to Bosnia and Herzegovina (T)

EU - Bosnia and Herzegovina (T)

vote

McALLISTER, David (EPP, DE)

PREDA, Cristian Dan (EPP, RO)

HAHN, Johannes (AT, EC)

PAPADAKIS, Demetris (S&D, CY)

2016 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina: extracts from the vote (15/02) and extracts from the debate (14/02)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14655446/I133746Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), It is one of the last countries in the region to take that step towards EU accession and the authorities and citizens need a bit of encouragement.

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), We also need encourage the authorities to stay on track with the reforms on which have decided upon, the reform agenda agreed in 2015. These reforms especially the social-economic ones are necessary to improve citizen&rsquo;s lives and to achieve visible change, but it is also very important for political reform to continue as we said last year so that Bosnia Herzegovina can become a effective, inclusive democratic country based on the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johannes HAHN, Member of the EC in charge of European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, The report highlights the need for the competent authorities to provide a single and coherent set of replies to the Commissions questionnaire. This is a key requirement in the opinion preparation process and the functioning of the coordination mechanism which working groups still need to be established will be tested. The Commission shares the view that the authorities need to keep up their efforts on further implementing the agreed 2015-2018 reform agenda.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Positive developments have been the result of reform efforts perused over the last 2 years and should facilitate that the country remains on the path of the EU accession process. However this country also continues to struggle with fragmentation as well ethnical and political polarisation. Necessary cooperation and coordination between the entities and all level of government remain fragile and are often subject to Nationalist rhetoric and actions. This is a pity.

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Demetris PAPADAKIS (S&amp;D, CY), The S&amp;D group will insist on equal rights for all citizens and attaches particular importance to the need to promote reconciliation and social sensitive reforms.

Vote on the Preda report, adotpion of the resolution, Total: 695, +496, -132, abstention, 67 (5 shots)