European Commission President Juncker receives BiH’s Questionnaire replies

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker visited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 28 February, where he received replies to the European Commission’s Questionnaire. At a ceremony ...

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker visited Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 28 February, where he received replies to the European Commission’s Questionnaire.

At a ceremony held in Sarajevo today, President Juncker received Bosnia and Herzegovina’s replies to the European Commission’s Questionnaire. Chair of the Presidency Čović and Chair of Council of Ministers of BiH Denis Zvizdić handed over the replies in the presence of Commissioner Johannes Hahn numerous representatives of the BiH authorities.

Handover ceremony at the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

After meeting with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the leadership of the BiH Parliament, President Juncker addressed a joint session of both chambers of the Parliamentary Assembly. Members of Parliament were joined for the address by Members of the BiH Presidency, state and Entity officials, representatives of civil society organisations, EU Member States’ Ambassadors and numerous other dignitaries and officials.

“It is my pleasure and honour to address you today, as the elected representatives of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. You are here because of them and for them we work together,” President Juncker began his parliamentary address, in which he called for citizens to be at the core of the EU and BiH’s joint actions.

“Your path is a natural one for your country, because you are an integral part of Europe, of European territory, history and culture. Your future is in the European Union,” President Juncker stated and called for special emphasis on promoting the rule of law as a prerequisite for BiH’s EU future. “Rule of law cannot be achieved without the continued fight against corruption,” Juncker underlined.

Speech by President Jean-Claude Juncker to the BiH Parliamentary Assembly:

Ahead of the handover ceremony, Commissioner Hahn met with university students, representatives of civil society organisations and young activists earlier this morning at the EU Delegation/EUSR Office in Sarajevo. Young people from Banja Luka, Mostar and Brčko joined the discussion via video-link from EU Info Points across the country.

Young guests proceeded to watch a live broadcast of President Juncker’s speech at the BiH Parliament, while EU Ambassador to BiH Lars-Gunnar Wigemark joined them for a Q&A session afterwards.

During his Western Balkans tour, President Juncker visited the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro and he will visit Kosovo later today.