Jandroković: Stärkung der Beziehungen zwischen der Republik Kroatien und Bosnien und Herzegowina; Čović: Wir bauen langfristige Stabilität

President of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković hosted President of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Čović during his working visit to Croatia. The two leaders met in Zagreb and later visited the LNG Terminal Krk-Omišalj, highlighting their ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Jandroković emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting the strong historical, cultural, and economic connections between the nations. He stressed the significance of the Croatian community living within Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscoring Croatia’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He reiterated the necessity of advocating for the equal rights and constitutive status of the Croatian people, particularly in relation to the upcoming elections scheduled for October 2026. Čović expressed gratitude for Jandroković's efforts over the past decade to improve relations between the legislative bodies of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He highlighted the mutual commitment to building long-term stability between the two states, encouraging Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path and broader integration aspirations. During the meeting, Čović also outlined internal political developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the general elections set for early October, emphasizing the need for necessary changes in electoral legislation. He noted that sustainable solutions for the future can only be achieved through continuous dialogue and agreement among key political actors within Bosnia and Herzegovina. The discussion also covered the continued support from Croatia for Croats living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly through projects in education, healthcare, culture, and other areas vital to their survival and development. Since 2016, there has been a consistent increase in funding from the Croatian state budget for initiatives benefiting the Croatian minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Special attention was given to economic cooperation, which has shown steady growth. In 2025, bilateral trade reached a record high of approximately four billion euros, with a positive trend continuing into this year. Looking forward, both leaders discussed opportunities for further strengthening economic collaboration, especially in the energy sector. The Southern Gas Corridor project was highlighted as a potential means of deepening the connection between the two countries and providing Bosnia and Herzegovina with greater energy security through the Omišalj liquefied natural gas terminal on the island of Krk. Both presidents planned to visit the terminal together later in the day. In addition to Čović, representatives from the Croatian Parliament were present, including President of the Croatian Parliament’s Council for Croats Outside Croatia Zdravka Bušić, along with deputies Dario Pušić and Veselko Barbarić. The session also included participation from Darijana Filipović, a member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a candidate for the position of Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the HDZ BiH party. She is considered a viable candidate following the previous dominance of Bosniak voters in similar elections, where former candidate Željko Komšić, who lacks eligibility for candidacy in the upcoming election, received overwhelming support. Čović expressed confidence that Filipović could secure victory, thereby ensuring legitimate representation for the Croatian community and laying the foundation for long-term stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.