Lithuanian president offers expertise to Bosnia and Herzegovina on EU membership

VILNIUS – Lithuania supports Bosnia and Herzegovina's bid for European Union membership and is ready to help by sharing its expertise and experience, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday. 

"Lithuania's EU membership has become a real success story, so we consistently support other countries' Euro-integration aspirations. I firmly believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina also deserves this chance," Nauseda told the media after meeting with Denis Becirovic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Vilnius.

"Lithuania, which is already celebrating 20 years of EU and NATO membership, is ready to help Bosnia and Herzegovina with its expertise and share its experience," he added.

According to the president, Lithuania is interested in developing economic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the agricultural and food sectors.

"I believe there is still a lot of untapped potential in our bilateral relations, and through more active cooperation, we will be able to benefit each other even more," he said.  

Nauseda emphasized that, in the face of the war in Ukraine, EU enlargement is a way to ensure security and stability across Europe, including in the Western Balkans.

"The consequences of this war are harmful both for the Western Balkans region and Europe as a whole. We have to support Ukraine until victory, continue the policy of sanctions against Russia, and support peace talks on Ukrainian terms. This is important for the security of all of us," he said.

During the meeting, Becirovic thanked Nauseda and Lithuania for supporting his country's EU and NATO membership aspirations.

"I would like to express my special respect to Lithuania for its continued assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said. "We are immensely grateful for the support we have received on our path to full EU and NATO membership." 

The leader of Bosnia and Herzegovina noted that Northern Europe has become much safer since Sweden and Finland joined NATO and said it is now time to strengthen the Western Balkans.

"The Western Balkans are the weak link in Europe's security architecture. That is why it is so important that Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes a NATO member as soon as possible," he told journalists.

Becirovic also reaffirmed his country's continued support for Ukraine.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina's stance on Russia's aggression in Ukraine is clear – we will continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine," he said. "Bosnia and Herzegovina firmly supports Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity."

The chairman of the Presidency said he hopes that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lithuania will cooperate more closely in the future, not only in the economic sphere, but also in defense and culture.

"In the near future, we want to deepen cooperation between our two countries by strengthening our economic and political ties, as well as cooperation in defense and security, education, science, sports, and culture, and other areas," he said.

Becirovic also thanked the Lithuanian parliament for its resolution on the Srebrenica massacre adopted 14 years ago.

"This is another reason why Bosnia and Herzegovina has the utmost respect for the friendly state of Lithuania," he said. 

This marks the Bosnian and Herzegovinian leader's first visit to Lithuania.

Becirovic has chaired the Presidency, a three-member body that collectively serves as head of state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, since March. It also includes Zeljka Cvijanovic, the Serb member, and Zeljko Komsic, the Croat member. 

The EU has agreed to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and has opened talks with Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia.