EUROPEAN UNION IS FULLY ENGAGED, MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIP – SORENSEN

The level of the European Union’s commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European integration is shown by an intensive series of key meetings in the week ahead, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union/EU Special Representative Ambassador Peter Sorensen said today.

Starting tomorrow (Monday 14 November), top officials of the European Commission’s Enlargement Directorate – Director General Stefano Sannino and Western Balkans Director Pierre Mirel – will chair high level meetings with counterparts from the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Discussions will include the co-ordination of future funding for the country and the region from the European Commission’s Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA), sub-committees on transport and energy, and meetings on TRANSCO and Corridor Vc. The Director General will also open an exhibition of photos of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU House. Finally on Thursday 17 November the European Commission will launch the programming of IPA funds for 2012 and 2013, offering more than EUR 200 million of grant assistance.

Ambassador Sorensen said:

“The EU has pledged to work in partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The activities of the coming week show that we are fully engaged. We have our resources and expertise ready, including some of the most senior officials of the European Commission, to make progress on issues that are of key concern for European integration, but most importantly for citizens.

“We all want to see a co-ordinated approach in the country to the use of EU funds. Opportunities to make improvements in the transport and energy fields are in front of us. So I am looking forward to sitting down with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and taking advantage of this major opportunity for partnership.”

Europa.ba