On 11 September 2026, the “Future is the EU” campaign continued in Mostar, bringing young people together to discuss the issues they see as important for the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and creating space for them to share their views, ideas and priorities with wider audiences.
“Young people continue to be Bosnia and Herzegovina’s best ambassadors. Through their talent, energy, and resilience, they are paving the way to a better future. The Youth Declaration was shaped entirely by and for young people, giving them a direct say in the decisions that affect their lives. The EU path remains the best guarantee of stability and prosperity in BiH, and it is essential that young people are actively involved,” said Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications and Spokesperson of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The campaign follows the Joint Youth Declaration on the European Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, developed by 80 young people from across the country following a Youth Summit held in May. The Declaration sets out their priorities for a more inclusive, prosperous and democratic Bosnia and Herzegovina across five areas: democracy, rule of law and public policies; social cohesion and peacebuilding; education and jobs of the future; a just energy transition; and media and information literacy.
The Declaration was presented to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier this year. Through “Future is the EU”, these priorities are now being brought into conversations with more young people across the country.
In Mostar, the focus was on the importance of trust, dialogue and connection between people, reflecting the young people’s priority of social cohesion and peacebuilding. For young people, this means creating more opportunities to meet, work together and participate in shaping a society in which everyone can feel they belong.
“I believe that one of the greatest challenges for Bosnia and Herzegovina is how to move from a society where people often live alongside one another to one where we truly live together. Social cohesion is not only about good relations among citizens, but also about trust, equal opportunities and institutions that create a space where everyone can feel that they are part of the same society,” said Ivana Vučetić, member of the EU Youth Advisory Board.
She added that meaningful youth participation should enable young people to actively contribute to the changes that will shape their future, noting that EU support for this process helps give greater weight to young people’s voices and recognises them as equal participants in building society today.
“Social cohesion is one of the most important conditions for the European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Young people are already demonstrating what we can achieve through joint projects, peace initiatives, spaces for dialogue, and opportunities to connect. We need more opportunities to get to know one another, collaborate, and build a shared future,”said Mia Selena Lerch, member of the EU Youth Advisory Board.
At the event, young people could learn more about the Joint Youth Declaration and share their own ideas through the Youth Declaration Box. Messages collected during the Sarajevo event were brought to Mostar, where artist Jaks transformed them into a live graffiti message wall. Hosted by actor and content creator Goran Popović, the event also featured VR experiences, a photobooth, music and interactive activities.
The campaign will continue with youth-led events, bringing the remaining priorities from the Joint Youth Declaration into focus and creating further opportunities for young people to share their views on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European future.
