On February 5, 2016, the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative held an off-the-record roundtable discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Igor Crnadak. Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the middle of a transformative period in its history, facing a complex sets of issues including the refugee crisis, integration with Euro-Atlantic organizations, and relations with other Balkan states. During his visit to Washington, Minister Crnadak addressed Bosnia’s priorities and capacity to respond to these challenges. Foremost among these issues is Bosnia’s upcoming application to the EU, an effort in which Minister Crnadak has played a central role. He also discussed the prospects for Bosnia’s accession to NATO, especially in light of Montenegro’s recent invitation, and the need for constructive relations with neighboring Balkan states.

Igor Crnadak has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina since March 2015. He has extensive political experience within the leadership of the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP), having been PDP Secretary for International Relations and Secretary General of the PDP. He has also served as a member of the European Integration Committee of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and as Deputy Minister of Defense of Bosnia from 2007 to 2009, where he was responsible for the country’s NATO coordination team.