“What does the Compact for Growth and Jobs mean?” – in Travnik and Vitez

Through a series of one day events and promotional activities in 15 cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina the Office of the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuing with the implementation of its initiative to support public debate on socio – economic reforms.

During the one-day events organised so far in nine municipalities, including the most recent one in Trebinje on 12 June, 2015, the most common socio – economic problems such as high unemployment rates, lack of investments, brain drain, improperly targeted social protection, the link between education and the labour market etc. were discussed by members of the public and private sectors, students, unemployed people as well as the general public.

In the course of the Panel debate in Trebinje, participants pointed out that there is discrepancy between education and labour market. Citizens also spoke of privatisation which resulted in closure of factories in Trebinje area whereas new jobs were not created meanwhile.

The EUSR initiative follows the publication of the ‘Compact for Growth and Jobs’ in July 2014 and the call for a reform agenda for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Conclusions of the Council of the European Union from December 2014.

The event in Travnik on 18 June and Vitez on 19 June on each day will include:

• 11:00 – Public debate on the Compact and focused on the most-needed reforms and the opportunities for all groups of BiH society.
• 13:30 – Employment and Career Forum during which around 15 exhibitors will present around 30 employment opportunities.

After Tomislavgrad, Čapljina, Bihać, Sanski Most, Prijedor, Istočno Sarajevo, Foča, Bijeljina and Trebinje the initiative will visit a different municipality every week: Brčko on 23 June, Doboj on 25 June, Tuzla on 26 June and Mostar on 29 June.

ST