The new EU Commission will play an indispensable role in helping the countries of the Western Balkans eliminate obstacles to prosperity and security, High Representative Valentin Inzko said today in a letter to the new Vice President of the Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.
Writing on the day incoming Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced the designated members of his team, Ambassador Inzko noted that when he met Ms Mogherini at two recent international conferences in Vienna and Dubrovnik he had expressed hope that during her mandate “it will be possible to bring a much greater degree of prosperity to this region and to establish permanent stability in the Western Balkans.”
Ambassador Inzko described the economic and political transformation of the region as “the task of our generation” and he expressed continuing optimism that substantial progress can be made under the new Commission.
As Foreign Minister during Italy’s EU Presidency, Ms Mogherini visited the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, in July. “I know that you are very familiar with the possibilities and the challenges and at the same time aware of the need to make the most of those possibilities and address those challenges, for the sake of the people of this region and for the sake of citizens throughout the EU,” Ambassador Inzko wrote.
Ambassador Inzko also wrote today to Baroness Catherine Ashton to express his warmest appreciation for the work she has done for Bosnia and Herzegovina during her five-year term as Vice President and High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy.