The Conference was also attended by delegations of the European integration committees of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and by delegations of the Croatian and Turkish parliamentary committees as observers.

The meeting was hosted by the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its key topics were intensifying economic development and progress toward Europe, implications of the refugee crisis on the region and regional response to the global problem of terrorism.

The participants emphasised the importance of intensifying regional and cross-border cooperation for the peace and stability of the region, better life for all the citizens and faster progress toward the common foreign policy goal of all the countries in the region – EU accession. The also parliamentarians had the chance to hear about the initiatives of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) related to the Western Balkan region.

Discussing the problem of terrorism that is troubling the entire world, our region included, the parliamentarians underlined the importance of preventive action, de-radicalisation and suppression of violent extremism. They endorsed the initiative for regional cooperation in the prevention of terrorism and the fight against arms trafficking which will necessitate cooperation between expert and intelligence services.

Speaking of the current refugee crisis, the participants focused on the causes of the mass migrations, two chief ones being conflicts and poverty, as well as expectations as regards the development of the situation. They commended the agreement between EU and Turkey and the EU’s cooperation with the countries along the Balkan route, but at the same time urged for the support and stronger efforts of the entire international community toward finding a long-term solution to the problem.

The meeting ended with the adoption of a Joint Statement. In the course of the Conference the parliamentarians also discussed further steps concerning the previously adopted initiative to set up a Parliamentary Forum within the Berlin Process.

The chair and host of the next, 13th COSAP will be the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.