HoD/EUSR Ambassador Peter Sorensen and the European Union Heads of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina met the Sarajevo Mayor, Ivo Komsic, in the EU House in Sarajevo today.

Mayor Komsic elaborated his plans for future projects of the City of Sarajevo administration. He highlighted the City Hall, 2017 Youth Olympic Games and “2014 Sarajevo European Bridge of Cultures” projects as some of his top future priorities.

Ambassador Sorensen and the EU Heads of Mission to BiH welcomed the Mayor of Sarajevo’s efforts to improve cooperation with the Mayors of Istocno Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar. Speaking about the EU assistance to various projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Sorensen stressed the importance of the protection of cultural heritage.

The EU has allocated 13 million Euro for reconstruction and rehabilitation of BiH cultural heritage from IPA and PHARE funds since 2008. So far, the EU has provided over eight million Euro for co-financing rehabilitation of Sarajevo City Hall and reconstruction should be finalised by end of June 2014.

EU has also contributed to rehabilitation of cultural heritage in Stolac – the bridges, mill houses and Old Town Vidoski; Novi Grad – City Hall; and Banja Luka – the Kastel.

“All these buildings and facilities are of significant importance, not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the South East Europe region, but are part of the wider European history”, stressed Ambassador Sorensen.

EU Heads of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina regularly meet with officials from various levels of government in the country in order to get first-hand information on various issues.