Zenica: EU in art

Celebrations in Zenica took place on 9 May with an open-air event at Alija Izetbegović Square in the centre of Zenica by Ambassador Peter Sorensen, Head of the EU Delegation/EUSR and the Zenica Mayor Husein Smajlović.

Young artists portrayed the EU, the unity it symbolises, and their perception of BiH in this context with visual artworks and digital expression – photography. More than 60 artworks of young artists from all over BiH symbolically presented the visions of BiH youth on the EU, as well as their desires to have BiH become a part of the European family as soon as possible. EU in Art competition has been underway since March and young artists from Sarajevo, Brcko, Celinac, Maoca, Visoko, Bijeljina, Bihac, Banja Luka, Gradiska, Visegrad, and Tuzla have taken part. At the Zenica event, Ambassador Sorensen, Director of the BiH European Integration Directorate, Nevenka Savic and Mayor Smajlovic presented the awards to artists whose artwork was selected as the best by expert jury. Pupils from Zenica Music High School and majorettes from Kiseljak performed at the closing ceremony.

You can see EU in Art winners of the competition album on this link: http://goo.gl/HgFbg

Banja Luka: Rock Towards Europe in Banja Luka

Over 1000 young people enjoyed in music by popular bands Neuro and Vanja the Frog in a concert held in the grounds of the Banja Luka Kastel fortress.

Following the concert, Djurica Stula, member of rock band Vanja the Frog, stated: “We were flattered with the invitation to perform at Europe Day celebration in Banja Luka. The selection of bands and DJs was excellent as well, especially because of the fact that it involved local forces, which attracted pretty large crowd at Kastel fortress, regardless of poor weather conditions. I cannot describe the scepticism at 20:15 while the raining drizzles and Kastel is half-empty, and then at one point the people start to show up and everything goes the way we wanted it. Judging by the reactions from the crowd we got the impression they liked the performance so I believe we lived up to the slogan of the concert Rock to Europe”.

You can see Concert album on this link: http://goo.gl/lq6Dv

Brcko: Young Europeans

In the framework of activities organised by the EU Delegation/EUSR to BiH to celebrate Europe Day, the citizens of Brcko had the opportunity to attend a gala event which took place on Saturday, 11 May, and was complemented by the performance of pupils of Brcko Music School and young members of theatre group Harlekin at a premiere of Teenage Show play, and all of this was accompanied by the EU birthday cake, face painting, trampolines, and other interesting features.

You can see Europe Day in Brcko celebration album on this link: http://goo.gl/SFrpO

Sarajevo: Run to Europe

In the framework of activities organised by the EU Delegation/EUSR to BiH to celebrate Europe Day, a traditional event “Run to Europe” took place in Sarajevo on Sunday, 12 May.

Traditional 4-km race was launched by Nevenka Savic, Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration and Ambassador Peter Sorensen, Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative to BiH. More than 100 children participated at the children race on route BBI-Eternal Flame-BBI. The race for adults on route BBI-Titova St- Musala- Obala Kulina Ban- Telali- Mula Mustafa Bašeskije gathered around 200 competitors and the winners were Darko Živanović from Serbia in men’s competition and Biljana Cvijanović from BiH in women’s competition. The participants assessed the marking of Europe Day in Sarajevo through support to sport and developing of sportiness as positive, especially because of large participation of the youngest ones.

“I am glad I was a part of the race. Since I am not a professional runner and the race was not preceded by some large preparations, four kilometres sounds simple at first, and it seems it doesn’t require that much effort. However, that’s not the case. The more prepared you are, the easier you’ll take it. Race is symbolic on its own, because perhaps all of us as a country understood the path we still need to cross to get to Europe a bit too easily. The ones that prepared and worked seriously got to the finish line first. Other competitors, our neighbouring countries, understood the preparations more seriously and they were more determined so they either got there sooner or are going to get there sooner. Initiatives like these are really good and I hope a larger number of citizens will join the race in the future, and that we’ll all become more determined and more persistent in our efforts as a country to join the EU” said the race contestant from Sarajevo.

You can see Run to Europe album on this link: http://goo.gl/EQhOo