State Secretary for Europe of the Republic of France, Laurence Boone, said today in Sarajevo that Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of the European family and that it is very important for BiH to join the EU as soon as possible.
The visit of Boone, who is staying in BiH on March 6 and 7, represents the continuity of French engagement in the Western Balkans in the context of rapprochement with the European Union and the granting of candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“BiH’s candidate status is very important for all members of the European Union,” she said.
She claims that many European officials will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to show their support for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its European path.
“What I find very interesting in BiH is the vibrant civil society, but also how much the citizens work to promote democracy and the rule of law,” she pointed out.
As part of the visit, Boone will also meet with politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to encourage them to implement essential reforms on the European path.
The goal of her visit is to recall the support of France in this process and the desire to soon sign an intergovernmental agreement on the work of the French Development Agency (AFD), which will actively contribute to strengthening bilateral relations, but also to the implementation of the European reform agenda and the economic development of the country.
During her visit to the Sarajevo City Hall, the State Secretary also spoke with the Mayor of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, as well as MPs and representatives of civil society and youth.
After the meeting with the mayor of Sarajevo, Boone visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sarajevo, and she is also scheduled to hold a lecture on the role of young people in the adoption of reforms at the Olympic Museum.
Secretary Boone will also pay tribute to the French soldiers who lost their lives in the service of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, accompanied by the French contingent of the European Union Operation EUFOR/Althéa, Fena reports.
