RAČIĆ: REGIONAL INTEGRATION REMAINS TOP PRIORITY

JAHORINA, MAY 13 /SRNA/ - The Jahorina Economic Forum, which ended today, showed that regional integration remains a top priority and that this process should continue, said Forum President Goran Račić.

"The only real path by which we can improve the region is its unification," Račić said, adding that this year's theme "Western Balkans 2030: Integration, Innovation, Sustainable Growth," was success.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the level of integration processes, noting that initiatives such as the Open Balkans and the Berlin Process have failed their test.

"Therefore, we must look for new models of integration," Račić said, recalling that apart from the CEFTA free trade agreement signed under the auspices of the international community, nothing significant has been achieved in regional integration over the past 30 years.

He believes that in the coming period, efforts should be made to ensure that authorities responsible for border crossings enable the signing of a unified initiative so that at crossings between BiH, Serbia, and Montenegro, entrepreneurs can complete documentation at a single point.

"We are pleased that the access road to the Rača bridge, which is already completed, will be finished by the end of the year," Račić noted.

Noting there will be a one-stop border crossing system, meaning goods will be cleared at a single point, he said that efforts should continue to introduce the same model at other border crossings.

Račić also stressed the need to continue pressure on the FBiH Government to resolve the issue of the Gradiška border crossing within the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH.

"We must also request that an agreement with Croatia be signed as soon as possible, which would allow, in addition to the two first category crossings, four more to be introduced, significantly easing border crossings," he said.

He assessed that the Jahorina Economic Forum was extremely successful.

"All talks and discussions were held at a top level," Račić concluded, adding that the conclusions from the panels will be published later.

Announcing the 10th anniversary edition of the Jahorina Economic Forum next year, Račić said that governments of regional countries are expected to become more involved in the event.