The Herzegovina town of Siroki Brijeg – seat of the municipality and also the West Herzegovina Canton – was the destination of a one day visit by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the EU to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr Renzo Daviddi, on March 13.
Together with the German Ambassador to BiH, Ulrike Maria Knotz, Dr Daviddi met the municipal and Cantonal officials and visited the ongoing works, funded by the EU’s IPA programme, to install waste water collectors in the town centre.
A round table with 20 members of the business community enabled the EU representatives to discuss hot topics such as Croatia’s July 1st 2013 accession to the EU – which will require Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet EU standards if certain exports such as animal products are to continue. Dr Daviddi said “I heard about and saw some real success stories in the local business sector today – the result of hard work by local entrepreneurs and a supportive attitude from the municipality.”
Dr Daviddi also attended a question and answer meeting with students at the art academy in the town, who highlighted issues of their direct concern including the cost of student accommodation and how to apply for EU projects. Dr Daviddi said, “It is vitally important to hear what matters to young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina including students. Today the students we met challenged the municipality and the EU to do more – which is of course right. Students are no less important citizens than anyone else and their needs must be heard and carefully considered.”
