July 13 (SeeNews) - Bosnia was the only Western Balkan country not to join the transport community formed between 5 Western Balkan states and the European Union at the summit in Trieste, Italy, the European Commission said.
The transport community treaty was signed by the EU Presidency and the European Commission, on behalf of the bloc, and 5 Western Balkan partners at the 2017 Western Balkans Summit, the Commission said in a statement late on Wednesday.
"The summit called on Bosnia and Herzegovina to sign as soon as possible", the Commission noted.
According to Bosnian media reports, the country did not sign the treaty because it did not have the blessing of one of its entities, the Serb Republic, which has taken issue with the treaty's wording.
The treaty aims to pave the way for infrastructure improvements as well as better quality transport services throughout the region, the Commission said.
"The transport community treaty will help put into action reforms affecting people's everyday lives, for instance in the field of road safety", the Commission said. "By providing more stability, it will also attract new investors in the region and add to its economic growth".
The treaty is also expected to help the Western Balkan countries align their national transport laws with those of the EU, thereby strengthening neighbourly relations, promoting cross-border cooperation and ultimately bringing these countries closer to the European Union.
Bosnia now stands to lose hundreds of millions of euro intended for infrastructure projects, local media reports say.
The Western Balkan 6 group comprises Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.