EU Support for Vital Infrastructure Highlighted on Visit to Bijeljina

Progress in construction of the water supply system and the sewage network in Bijeljina – which the EU finances through 6.5 million Euro from the Instrument of Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) – was the focus of a visit to Bijeljina by the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Peter Sorensen, on 6 December 2012.

Once completed, the project will reduce health risks for 90,000 citizens of Bijeljina caused by the poor quality of drinking water. It will also considerably benefit the environment by stopping wastewater being discharged without treatment to the Rivers Drina and Sava. A meeting with local business leaders took place at Etno-village “Stanisic”, where ways to develop the local economy were discussed.

Also Ambassador Sorensen met with the Mayor of Bijeljina, Mr Mico Micic, the Deputy Mayor of Bijeljina, Mr Huso Zeckanovic, and the Speaker of Bijeljina City Assembly, Mr Dragan Djurdjevic. The Ambassador underlined  that all levels of government have various tasks with regard to the process of EU integration. “EU integration is about the whole of society. It is about education, and about jobs, and about the economy and culture. That applies here in Bijeljina as much as anywhere else”, Ambassador Sorensen stated.

Europa.ba