Ambassador Luigi Soreca, the Head of the European Union Delegation and EU Special Representative to BiH, said today in Banja Luka that the people of Banja Luka are welcome in the EU and that the doors are wide open for them.
“Our clear message is that we want to stop any unconstitutional actions in BiH and to turn to issues that mean the EU accession process,” said Soreca.
Today, together with ambassadors and diplomats from 11 EU member states, Soreca visited Banja Luka on the occasion of Europe Day.
After several cities and activities on Sutjeska, the EU ambassadors also spoke today with the citizens of Banja Luka.
Recalling that many EU-supported projects have been implemented in Banja Luka, such as the reconstruction of schools, the construction of playgrounds and football fields, Soreca revealed that he had spoken with the mayor of Banja Luka today about the opening of the House of Europe in this city.
“This house is designed as a meeting place for citizens, a place for discussion and dialogue about the EU, but also about other topics. The EU wants to have a stronger visibility in Banja Luka, because we believe that BiH, RS, and Banja Luka itself are Europe,” added Soreca.
He reminded that almost a year has passed since the green light from the European Council to open pre-accession negotiations, but that, however, we are in a situation where there is still no first intergovernmental conference.
“For our part, we still hope that this will definitely happen. At the same time, we cannot ignore the fact that we are in a truly deep constitutional crisis, a crisis that is of such proportions that it is now blocking the European path,” emphasized Soreca.
The EU accession process is, as he stated, the best tool that BiH has at its disposal to ensure stability and long-term security in BiH, and therefore in RS.
“I am once again using this opportunity to call on all domestic stakeholders to return the focus to these issues, restart the process with the adoption of the necessary laws and the appointment of the chief negotiator in order to continue the process towards realizing the future of this country under the auspices of the EU,” said Soreca.
He added that the European Union is not just regulations, directives and norms, but above all a vision whose backbone is precisely people.
“Today, we 12 EU ambassadors, member states, are using the opportunity to show citizens the concrete benefits of EU membership,” concluded Soreka.
Ambassador Soreca and the other 11 ambassadors of EU member states participated in activities focused on youth and culture in Banja Luka today, organized as part of Europe Day 2025. A meeting was organized with the Union of Students of the Republic of Serbia, which hosts students from all over Europe, a workshop on EU accession simulation for high school students, and a tour of the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Ambassadors also met with civil society and media representatives to highlight the EU’s support for fundamental rights on the path to EU accession.
At the beginning of the visit, Ambassador Soreca met with the Mayor of Banja Luka, Draško Stanivuković.
