High school students in Mostar, Bijeljina, Tuzla and Zenica have participated in workshops organised by the Delegation of the European Union/EUSR to mark the European Year of Citizens 2013. The workshops explored the rights and possibilities that EU membership brings to citizens, and participants also discussed how they see Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European future.
Students from more than 15 high schools in these areas took part, examining primarily topics related to European higher education and the mobility rights in the European Union. Students from Tuzla pointed out that under current conditions it’s easier for EU university students to move from country to country in order to follow their courses than it is for BiH students inside Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We have set it as our goal to join the EU, but in fact our goal needs to be to empower our state and to create a stronger economy. First we need reforms…” said one student from Bijeljina.
Most of the participants said they see Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future as being within the EU, but they said this will only be achieved if there is a stronger engagement by Bosnia and Herzegovina and if BiH citizens are better informed about the EU integration process.
Events organised to mark the European Year of Citizens began with a workshop for young activists who led the debates, in Sarajevo in July. EUD/EUSR Head of Communication Andy McGuffie joined young activists at that event. The initiative continued with the four debates in BiH cities. A report on the debates is being prepared and will soon be presented to the Head of Delegation/EUSR, Ambassador Peter Sørensen.
