prijava
ZENICA, July 22 (FENA) - The 9th public debate held today in Zenica also marked the completed the ‘PreEUuzmi inicijativu’ (Take the Initiative) project, launched by the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUSR).
During the past months, the project has been implemented through similar discussions throughout BiH, and the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, said that the meeting and discussion on the topic of the European path of BiH with the citizens of Zenica was the most important meeting in that city.
He met today with Prime Minister of the ZDC government Mirza Ganić and the Mayor of Zenica Fuad Kasumović.
“This is the ninth debate and what was confirmed in the conversation with the citizens, which I was aware even before, was that the citizens worry most about jobs, their livelihood ... all the everyday issues.
It is interesting that the most optimism you can find is among young people, while pessimism is more present in older generations. The young are those who are certainly more willing to take the initiative,” said Ambassador Wigemark.
He added that citizens, representatives of the non-governmental sector, small and medium-sized enterprises in other cities they visited as well, were interested in how to access EU funds, but also a broader perspective of BiH, its possibilities, constitutional reform, etc.
“Fifty percent of the EU acquis communautaire is implemented at lower, local levels. Opportunities, such as this meeting, give the possibility for the authorities to find out what is expected of them in the process of European integration and the citizens themselves to hear directly what is what in the European integration process brings. It is important for them to understand that this is a process that is indeed a comprehensive and transformative, and not reserved only for political elites or political leaders at the highest levels and their decisions,” said Wigemark.
French Ambassador to BiH Guillaume Rousson also stressed that BiH has a European chance and that, in his opinion, regardless of all obstacles and blockades, there are no obstacles that this country cannot overcome on this path.
“BiH has received its chance through the Road Map that was presented by the European Commission through opinion and analytical report. They clearly set out the conditions that BiH must meet in order to join the EU.
My advice to the citizens of BiH is to accept these conditions as quickly as possible and to fulfill them in order to join the EU as soon as possible,” said Rousson, who added that the meeting of these goals and tasks depends exclusively on BiH.
(FENA) S. R.
