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Austria pledges to help BiH over EU integration

Xinhua, February 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Austria will support Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in its path to join the European Union (EU), said Sebastian Kurz, Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, on Monday.

Kurz, who was on an official visit to BiH, also urged BiH to speed up reforms.

"BiH needs to implement a lot of reforms and it is in its best interests. It is a prerequisite if it wants to join the EU," he said.

Dragan Covic, chairman of the BiH presidency, announced last month that BiH would submit an application to join the EU on Feb. 15. He said BiH could get a candidate status in early 2017.

During his visit, Kurz met top BiH officials including members of the BiH Presidency, and later attended the opening ceremony of "Year of Culture of BiH-Austria 2016."

BiH and Austria also signed a scientific and technical cooperation agreement to enhance bilateral relations. Endit