Ambassador Sorensen visits Citluk and Ljubuski

 
Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, visited Citluk and Ljubuski today. During the visits, Ambassador Sorensen met with the Mayor of Citluk, Ivo Jerkic, and the Mayor of Ljubuski, Nevenko Barbaric. All levels of government have various tasks with regard to the process of EU integration and these visits were an opportunity to discuss EU related issues with local authorities in the two municipalities.
 
Ambassador Sorensen attended the signing ceremony of the project “Construction of sewage collectors and pressurized sewage pipeline for Medjugorje and Bijakovici” in Citluk – funded from the EU’s IPA financial assistance programme – and visited the ongoing sewage system construction site in Ljubuski, also supported through IPA.
 
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony in Citluk, Ambassador Sorensen said:
 
“This project is important not just for Medjugorje but also for the wider region of southern BiH and the border areas of Dalmatia. This is a very sensitive karst area and organic water pollution flows directly underground from settlements Medjugorje and Bijakovici that are not connected to a wastewater treatment system. This is a huge environmental problem. I am pleased the EU is bringing its assistance in this area to help protect the local environment.”
 
The overall value of this project is 975,000 euro, which the EU supports with around 252,000 euro through IPA.
 
During the visit to the sewage system construction site in Ljubuski, Ambassador Sorensen said:
 
“In Ljubuski municipality, waste water from households that are not connected to the sewage system is collected in individual septic tanks. Because of soil construction, the waste water flows down and produces a negative pollution effect on drinking water resources. The project will resolve this worrying situation, which has negative impact on people’s health and the environment. The project will also contribute to economic development. I understand that the sewage system will be extended to the site of a future business zone”.
 
The sewage system project is funded jointly by the EU and the World Bank and is worth around 2,5 million euro of which 2 million euro is provided from IPA.

Europa.ba