1. Recently, the EU assessed that BiH has made remarkable progress in the European integration process and commended the BiH authorities for that. How is this progress reflected concretely? How can this be presented concretely to the citizens in order to convince them that the country is moving in the right direction?

BiH is moving forward on the EU track. The country is already benefiting from the SAA and trade liberalization with the EU. What is equally important is that BiH continues to progress on the Reform Agenda. Public administration and healthcare reforms are the next major steps. The appetite for tackling corruption is huge, but so are the challenges.

Everyone working in politics and institutions has a responsibility to take forward structural reforms that will open up more jobs, use public funds more wisely and make it easier to do business.

Help us to help you ensure that key sectors – the judiciary, the administration, the economy – and key infrastructure are ready for the high demands of EU membership, are competitive and are getting EU financial and technical support.

It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to take time. The brunt of the work will have to be done by you and your authorities. But we are here to help you achieve our common goal – Bosnia and Herzegovina as a member of the European Union.

2. Politics in BiH still functions on the principle of ethnic and territorial divisions, trying to convince the people that this is their future. Is an ethnic division of BiH a process that could be acceptable given the European standards?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a European country, and its future is in the European Union. It is a country of amazing diversity, and so is the European Union. To join the European Union, a country needs to fulfil economic and political conditions, which require a stable democratic government that respects the EU’s fundamental values for human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law.  The main goal of the European Union is to defend these values in Europe and promote peace and the wellbeing of the citizens

However, the main problems facing Bosnia and Herzegovina are socio-economic in nature, and the main focus should be on creating jobs and encouraging economic growth and investment, because this is what the citizens in BiH want and need. Improving the lives of people in the country and modernising the country to meet the demands of EU membership – this is the goal and the only way the vicious circle of political and economic stagnation in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be ended.

3. In your opinion, what can significantly accelerate the European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and what is its biggest obstacle now?

There are no shortcuts on the European integration path. What is essential now is that Bosnia and Herzegovina is actively engaged in providing comprehensive, precise and coordinated answers to the EC’s Questionnaire. In that sense, quality is more important than speed.

We also expect all political parties and their leaders to stick to commitments made and help implement the Reform Agenda that can bring BiH forward on its European path. Our commitment certainly remains as strong as ever in supporting the country on its EU path, including through the Reform Agenda implementation.

4. The BiH authorities obviously did not recognize nor seriously understood the potential of pre-accession funds that could transform many sectors and for example provide better access to the single European market. What’s your advice in this regard?

The EU is the largest donor to Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have provided various types of financial assistance, from the rebuilding of infrastructure after the war to investing in better educational, legal, administrative and welfare services, to the response during and after the floods.

The future EU assistance under IPA II is focused on strategic priorities. Without country wide sector strategies in the areas such as agriculture and rural development, Bosnia and Herzegovina will not be able to further benefit from IPA support in these sectors. Over the past 20 years, the EU has invested more than EUR 30 million in the agricultural sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for this support to continue, a country-wide strategy for agriculture and rural development needs to be adopted. A significant part of the work has already been done, now a political decision should be made to adopt the Strategy.

We welcome the adoption of the Transport and Environment Approximation Strategies. This will open door for more EU assistance in these sectors, provide BiH citizens with better opportunities and allow for development of standards equal to the ones enjoyed by EU citizens.

5. I believe that you are familiar with the large emigration of BiH population to the EU countries, mainly due to the poor economic situation. People are obviously able to integrate faster than the country itself. If you were the leader of this country, would this trend worry you?

I am aware of this trend and it does worry me!  People want jobs, a decent life and proper healthcare. This trend also shows they in fact want to see an alternative to political gridlock and economic decline. The country should continue focusing on the reforms that are necessary to cope with the economic and social challenges and that can bring BiH forward on its European path.

We are all here – together with EU Member States –  to assist the authorities, civil society, media and citizens, in the effort to get the country to the EU. We do so in the firm belief that the journey will bring real improvements to the lives of this country’s citizens.

6. Germany is leading the so-called Berlin process that is now being called a kind of Marshall Plan for the Balkans, in terms of economic strengthening of this region. Do you believe that this is a recipe that will solve the local issues, including political ones?

The EU underlines its commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans and welcomes any Member State initiatives that support this objective.

The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) established in 2009, bringing together the European Commission, 20 bilateral donors (amongst them many EU Member States and also EFTA members) and major International Financing Institutions – as well as the Western Balkan countries, is a  key instrument to provide funding for major infrastructure preparation and implementation in the region underpinning its economic development. This instrument is open to any interested donor that wants to contribute funds to the Western Balkans.

7. Nonetheless, it seems that the most vital part of the population has lost faith in the country and that the emigration is a solution to all problems. Many political options, however, advocate for the third entity or the secession of one of the existing two. Is that possible?

The EU supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU also fully respects the current constitutional structure of BiH and will review it against the EU acquis in the framework of the Opinion process.

Our vision for BiH is one of a country that is stable, democratic, prosperous, and integrated with the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with a complex structure, but there is no reason why it should not move forward in its EU perspective, with concerted political will. Political leaders assure me that they share the common goal of moving forward on the EU path. And I am looking forward to seeing their political differences being put aside to achieve this joint objective. There is also a matter of responsibility towards their voters.

8. Let’s imagine we are in 2018 and the elections are over. How many members of the BiH Parliament and the BiH Council of Ministers after these elections are women, what is the percentage?

The percentage of women active in BiH politics is discouragingly low and I certainly hope that it would be much higher after general elections in 2018. Despite the existence of political commitments and legal provisions providing gender equality, women remain underrepresented in politics and public life in BiH.

The EU will continue to support women engagement in politics and public life to gather their reflections on current issues and amplify their voices concerning the future of BiH.

My message would be that all the women who are thinking of running but not doing it yet, to do it, and for the women who already hold public office, to try to bring in a new generation of women, because it is really needed.

9. If you were to choose three women for the Presidency members, who would you choose?

During my mandate as the Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative, I have met many capable, talented and smart women in this country. Women mayors, entrepreneurs, humanitarian workers, activists…

This country has many courageous and remarkable women whose work and dedication plays a pivotal role in development and prosperity of BiH. Any of them, could successfully run the country and it would not be fair from me to pick one or three.

10. Give us one reason to vote for a woman?

More and more women within the European Union are leaders in every field, be it business, politics or education. There are several major European countries that have successful women leaders. Former and current EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission was/is a woman. We are proud of that!

Women are playing an increasingly relevant role in our politics, in our foreign policy, and in our societies. Our European foreign policy is putting women on the centre stage, every single day. In ten years, the European Commission has helped three hundred thousand girls get into secondary education. We are working together with local leaders who renounce female genital mutilation. We are supporting young women who say “no” to forced marriage. We are helping to spread the message that violence against women is a sign of weakness for men, not of strength.

A society where women have the same rights as men is not just more just; it is more secure, and richer. When women have no access to good education or to top jobs, we are only wasting their huge potential, which is our potential as well.

One must recognise that empowering women means empowering societies at large.

The original interview can be found at: http://interview.ba/interview/item/170-b-lars-gunnar-wigemark-b-nase-opredjeljenje-za-podrsku-bih-ostaje-snazno