prijava
SVILAJ, 30 September (FENA) - The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, attended today's ceremonial opening of the Svilaj Bridge, which will connect the motorway on the Corridor Vc on the BiH and Croatian sides over the Sava River.
Von der Leyen mentioned that bridges are the ones that connect people, but she pointed out that it is now important to build the most important bridges, which she called bridges of reconciliation, which is a debt to the victims of wars from the past, as well as for the sake of future generations.
The bridge connects the Western Balkans and the European Union, Von der Leyen said, noting that the European Union has invested 25 million euros in building the bridge, but more important is the symbolism the bridge represents.
"The essence of this project is the connection between countries, peoples and cultures, which is very important for our common future. BiH and the entire Western Balkans belong to the European Union and it is in the common interest and I believe that this is our destiny," she said.
She referred to the upcoming summit of the Western Balkans and the European Union in Slovenia, where the future vision of the EU will be discussed, and she wants to hear that BiH will be engaged in a conference on the future of this region and to hear the voice of young people in formulating the future of the EU.
"The leaders of the region must have the interest of the citizens as a priority and work on reforms that will bring a candidate status for BiH, and electoral and constitutional reforms are necessary. We will work together on this as your friends and partners. This can be achieved by ensuring equality for all and respecting what has been agreed," added Von der Leyen.
She said she had good news from Brussels because Serbia and Kosovo had reached an agreement that would stabilize the situation in northern Kosovo and allow the work on a sustainable solution.
Von der Leyen noted that the European Union has invested a lot of money in the economic recovery, 3.3 billion euros to support partners in the Western Balkans, while 380 million euros have been secured for BiH.
She said the economic investment plan would bring new jobs and integration within the Balkans, and called on all countries to work to establish a common market because it is important that there are no obstacles and difficulties to the free movement of people and goods.
As she said, it is now important to work on building a common future and long-term recovery because she believes that all citizens in BiH deserve a greener and more prosperous future.
The opening ceremony was also attended by BiH and Croatian officials, among them the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Zoran Tegeltija and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković who opened the border crossing and the interstate Svilaj Bridge on the Sava River.
(FENA) S. R.
