BOSNIA SIGNS EU PRE-MEMBERSHIP DEAL

Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU) taking its first step to join the 27-nation bloc. “Today ... we signed the first important institutional agreement ... that opens the door for deeper relationship between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said at the signing ceremony. In May, the European Commission launched a dialogue on visa free travel with Bosnia and Herzegovina. “By opening the dialogue on visa free travel the European Union proves its determination towards achieving the common objective of free movement for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Vice President of the Commission Jacques Barrot, who is in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security.