Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, visited Šamac and Brčko District BiH on October 29.
In Šamac, Ambassador Wigemark met with Mayor Savo Minić and Municipal Assembly Speaker, Predrag Marinković, to discuss European integration related issues and hear local viewpoints. Together with the Mayor, Ambassador Wigemark officially opened the Municipality building in Šamac, rehabilitated under the EU Floods Recovery Programme.
On this occasion, the successful completion of all rehabilitation works in this municipality was marked, in which the EU invested more than 3.5 million EUR under its Floods Recovery Programme.
“It is a pleasure to be here on this occasion when we are marking the end of the rehabilitation works financed by the EU Floods Recovery Programme in Šamac. The results achieved are clear evidence that the EU’s efforts and funding have a direct positive impact on citizens and their everyday lives. We should strive together to highlight and demonstrate this impact also in the view of further EU financial assistance to build resilience against future natural disasters that will be available to BiH,” said Ambassador Wigemark.
Apart from the Municipality building, four more public facilities in Šamac have been rehabilitated within the Programme, i.e. three schools and the Health Care Centre. The Programme also rehabilitated 238 priority housing units, one bridge and one local road. Through its economic recovery component, the EU Floods Recovery Programme has awarded grants to one small and medium enterprise, which sustained material damage during floods. Support was also provided for the recovery of three commercial agricultural producers, 48 subsistence farmers, one poultry producer, and six grain producers in Šamac.
Mayor Minić said: “The EU funds helped recover public facilities with the highest numbers of beneficiaries, including children, and fully achieved their goal: apart from reconstructing and refurbishing buildings and homes, they restored a smile on people’s faces. On behalf of the Municipality, I would like to thank the EU for their selfless help and donations under the Flood Recovery Programme.”
The ceremony was attended by Zlatan Klokić, RS Minister of Economic Relations and Regional Co-operation, Petar Đokić, RS Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Milanka Šopin, Assistant RS Minister of Governance and Local Self-governance, representatives of the Posavina Canton Government and mayors of Modriča, Donji Žabar, Pelagićevo, Odžak, and Domaljevac Šamac.
During his visit to Brčko District BiH, Ambassador Wigemark met with Mayor, Anto Domić, and Deputy Assembly Speaker, Adem Ribić. Ambassador Wigemark highlighted the important role of the Brčko District in the European integration process of BiH and welcomed the efforts in this respect, particularly the Action Plan for implementation of the Reform Agenda prepared by the Government of Brčko District.
Mayor Domić said: “We discussed the process of European integration and the contribution of Brčko District to the EU agenda, since it is a very important stakeholder in meeting the European commitments. We discussed the implementation of the European agenda, and upcoming activities we plan to undertake to help bring BiH closer to the EU. We particularly highlighted the set of anti-corruption laws that have been prepared, and will hopefully be finalised by the end of the year”.
Accompanied by Mayor and Chief of Police of Brčko District BiH, Goran Pisić, the Ambassador visited the construction site of the new headquarters of the Brčko District Police for which the EU provided 3.5 million EUR.
“This is very critical infrastructure that will positively impact the Brčko District Police capacity to meet standards in the law enforcement sector. It will contribute to better cooperation between different law enforcement agencies, as the new building will host the Border Police and the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs as well. Overall, it will ensure higher standards in law enforcement and a stronger rule of law in Brčko District,” said Ambassador Wigemark.
In Brčko District, the Ambassador also visited the Youth Centre “Vermont,” the first NGO established and registered in BiH in 1993, that has so far successfully implemented many EU projects. It is an independent, non-profit citizens’ association working to improve positions of youth in the District, based on democratic and non-political principles.
Watch here a video story on rehabilitation works in Šamac: https://youtu.be/wjym0QxBu74
About the EU Floods Recovery Programme
The EU Floods Recovery Programme was launched to restore normal living conditions in local communities and ensure that the aid reaches the most vulnerable ones in the aftermath of floods in May 2014. Funds are used for rehabilitation of public services and infrastructure, housing units for the most vulnerable people, and for social and economic recovery of local communities. The value of the overall Programme is 43.52 million, out of which 42.24 million is provided by the European Union. This assistance is a part of the funds that the European Union pledged at the donor conference in Brussels in July 2014. The Programme is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
