Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Road to the EU
The international conference ‘Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans on the Road to the European Union’ took place from 27 to 29 September 2024 in the city of Ljubuški, organised by the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the ‘Human Fraternity’ Foundation.
The conference was attended by more than eighty representatives of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union, the academic community of Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina, international organisations and experts in the field of European integration.
In her welcoming letter to the conference participants, the President of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, said that we are experiencing a moment when the European path of Bosnia and Herzegovina is more important than ever: ‘Our joint commitment is an important step towards achieving our common goals. Issues that are important for our region can offer great opportunities for progress and it is up to us to seize these opportunities.’ She emphasised that stability and cooperation are the basic prerequisites.
The President of the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and President of the Human Fraternity Foundation, Franjo Topić, emphasised that the Pan-European Union plays an important role in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He explained the importance of connections that help bring people closer together: ‘Nothing is easy or is achieved all at once. With this conference, we are somehow helping to bring people closer together. The Presidency of the Pan-European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina also has symbolic significance because it brings together representatives of all three nations. We are showing that it is possible to work together and build cooperation.’
The Secretary General of the International Pan-European Union, Pavo Barišić, emphasised the importance of this organisation, which has been active for more than a hundred years. He then referred to its influence in the process of unification of European countries and the establishment of the European Union. In his opinion, Bosnia and Herzegovina plays a special role in the enlargement of the EU. He believes that if Members of the European Parliament become more familiar with the challenges faced by Bosnia and Herzegovina, they could promote the negotiation process and influence its acceleration in their countries and the European institutions: ‘The issue of Ukraine and other countries has also reopened the issue of South-East Europe, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is now important to use this moment for the best possible preparation of the negotiations and the resolution of certain issues. The way some processes are taking place here, such as the reinforcement of the borders of the entities and the tendencies towards secession, is not a good way forward. However, the commitment of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Europe goes beyond all existing divisions.’
The Secretary General of the Pan-European Union and Director of the Foreign Policy Initiative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zvonimira Jakić, emphasised the importance of the declaration adopted at the conference. The declaration contains praise, but also criticism of the work of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and will be sent to prime ministers and presidents throughout the EU and to the European Commission.
The Mayor of Ljubuški, Vedran Markotić, assured that there are dozens of cities and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina that are adopting and developing the idea of Pan-Europe. He referred in particular to respect for human rights and unification so that citizens are equal in their differences.
The President of the Government of Western Herzegovina County, Predrag Čović, stated that the majority of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina want to join the EU and the benefits that come with it: ‘I am sure that the vast majority of BiH citizens want to join the EU, be a full member of the EU and adopt the values of the Union.’
The Deputy President of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Zvizdić, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to Europe geographically and culturally and is the inner courtyard of the Union. He added that the Union is not complete without Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, just as Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans cannot think of a stable, secure and promising future without membership in the EU and NATO. According to him, European and NATO integration are the two most important foreign policy goals of B&H. These are the issues that, as he says, will be present in the public space every day, and they must be at the centre of the work of the executive and legislative branches, not only of politicians and parliamentarians, but also of the academic community and civil society, as well as all citizens of B&H. He also said that on the political scene of Bosnia and Herzegovina there are political options that are absolutely committed to the EU, but that there are also those who offer 'imaginary alternatives'.
Programme (EN) (PDF)