The President of the European Commission invites Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in the Conference on the Future of Europe next spring, during her official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday.
In a statement issued by the President of the European Commission, which was posted on the official website of the Commission, von der Leyen said, “I am very much looking forward to the EU-Western Balkan Summit in a few days in Slovenia. Together, we will chart a vision for our common future.”
“I would also like Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate fully in the Conference on the Future of Europe. Because I want to hear the voice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the voice of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the youth of the region, in shaping the future of the European Union,” she added.
During her visit, von der Leyen participated in the opening of the Svilage Bridge, which links the Western Balkans and the European Union. She said that the European Union has invested 25 million euros in this bridge, but more importantly it is the symbol and the essence of this project.
Building bridges between people, countries and cultures, this is critical to our common future. Because Bosnia and Herzegovina and all the countries of the Western Balkans belong to the European Union. It’s in our common interest, but I also think it’s our destiny.
“Our common priorities for the future are clear. Of course, we have to act now, which is to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. We need to speed up vaccination, for example. We need to promote the economic recovery of the whole country,” she added.
“So far we have succeeded in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Union and its member states – and I am really grateful to Team Europe for doing so – have donated more than 1.3 million doses to Bosnia and Herzegovina. More donations will come,” she added, noting that Bosnia and Herzegovina It received 330 million euros in grants and funding to help the country deal with the consequences of the pandemic.
Regarding the tensions that have occurred in recent days between Serbia and Kosovo, von der Leyen said: “I am very pleased to hear the good news from Brussels. I have discussed these issues with President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti, and it is very positive that they reached an agreement to resolve the tensions in northern Kosovo.” This includes working towards a sustainable solution that allows freedom of movement on both sides.”
