The humanitarian rescue operations conducted by the EU following the recent floods and long term assistance for the country were discussed at a meeting on Thursday, 6 June 2014 between the Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, and the Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Nermin Niksic.
Ambassador Sorensen informed the Prime Minister that over 800 rescue personnel, including armed forces, of EU Member States have been part of the overall effort via the EU Emergency Response Mechanism, rescuing around 1,700 people. Additionally, EUFOR have rescued around 1,500 people through their operations. The EU Civil Protection Team remains on the ground to co-ordinate the EU contribution. He noted that the European Union is consulting intensively with the BiH authorities on the short to medium term assistance efforts, parallel with the ongoing work on the Recovery Needs Assessment.
Prime Minister Niksic, in detail, briefed Ambassador Sorensen on the plans of the Federation Government as a response to the consequences of the devastating flood.
The Ambassador and the Prime Minister also discussed the outcome of the recently held Forum for Prosperity and Jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ambassador noted that the consensus of participants was that high unemployment rates, especially among youth, low rates of investment and growth, a complicated and non-transparent business climate, and a low level of social support for the less-well-off in society are the key issues to be addressed by a coherent and comprehensive reform agenda.
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