Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Luigi Soreca, together with the Ambassador of Belgium to BiH Christine Detaille, Ambassador of Ireland Adrian Farrell, Ambassador of Slovenia Damijan Sedar, Ambassador of Sweden Helena Lagerlof and Ambassador of Spain Maria Molina Alvarez de Toledo, visited Una-Sana Canton (USC) and Bihac, where they spoke with representatives of cantonal and local authorities, toured the Faculty of Technical Engineering, and met with students of the Faculty of Economics in Bihac and the Faculty of Economics in Banja Luka.
The visit is part of the EU’s continuous engagement with local communities and authorities in BiH, aimed at strengthening reform processes and supporting development projects that contribute to social cohesion, sustainable development, and creating opportunities for young people. In talks with representatives of the executive and legislative authorities of USC, European diplomats were particularly interested in the strategic vision for the development of this part of BiH, as well as in infrastructure and energy projects that cantonal authorities highlight as priorities.
Prime Minister of USC Mustafa Ruznic and Chairman of the USC Assembly Nisvet Jusic presented the canton’s development strategy, emphasizing its geostrategic position, natural resources, and human potential, pointing out that the planned projects could have a positive impact on the development of the entire country.
After meetings at the USC Government, the EU delegation and ambassadors visited the City of Bihac, where they met in the City Administration with Mayor Elvedin Sedic and his associates. They discussed numerous projects that the City of Bihac is implementing with higher levels of government.
Mayor Sedic emphasized that the airport project and the Bihac – Cazin – Velika Kladusa expressway are not just Bihac projects, but regional projects that can bring a new development impulse. He also stressed the importance of better migration management, reminding that Bihac carried a huge burden in this context and that he will not allow a new migration wave to once again fall on the shoulders of its citizens.
Continuing the visit, the delegation toured the Faculty of Technical Engineering at the University of Bihac, whose renovation was supported by the EU, and then attended talks with students of the Faculty of Economics as part of the “Generation Change” project. The topic of this round of discussions was “Tourism as a driver of local development.”
“Today we are in Bihac and USC to hear the views and perspectives of local and cantonal authorities, but also to raise awareness of their role in the European integration process. We discussed a number of important topics, from energy, infrastructure, green transition, to migration issues and tourism development. Our goal is to be more present at the local level, to listen to citizens and to jointly prepare BiH for the phase of membership negotiations with the EU,” emphasized the Head of the Delegation of the EU and EU Special Representative in BiH, Luigi Soreca.
Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Bihac, Mirela Kljajic Dervic, thanked the ambassadors and the EU Delegation for the visit and support to this project, which enables young people to have a direct dialogue with diplomats and experts.
“This is a commendable event for young people in BiH, because it opens space for the exchange of ideas and experiences on socially and economically important topics. We are especially proud that the project is starting right here in Bihac, and that our faculty has been recognized as a partner of the EU Delegation in its implementation,” said Kljajic Dervic.
Nikola Vidovic from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Banja Luka emphasized the importance of cooperation among students from different parts of BiH.
“This is a great opportunity for students from Bihac and Banja Luka to exchange knowledge and contacts, and to apply theoretical knowledge in practice. As someone who first participated in the ‘Generation Change’ project as a student, and now as a mentor, I can confirm how important this kind of cooperation is for the development of higher education in BiH,” said Vidovic.
