“Social policy knows no borders, as we in the European Union know. This is very good timing to be having this discussion today, on how to try to assist people who are most vulnerable in our societies, in BiH, the region and the European Union. Social policies are an integral part of the EU integration process,” said Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH, at a National Conference within the Social Dimension Initiative for the Western Balkans.

In addition to presentation of the specific social needs and problems in BiH, the conference presented local communities that take an active part in the mentoring process. It addressed particular issues related to IPA funding and the social impact of EU integration, as well as support to social issues including social entrepreneurship and other local initiatives that tackle rudimentary social community needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. FBiH Minister of the Labour and Social Policy Vesko Drljača and Minister of the RS Ministry of Health and Social Protection Alen Šeranić took part in the conference, expressing the commitment of the entity ministries to continue the improvement of social policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Social policy is the centrepiece of EU policies, it has come to the forefront as we prepare for the European elections this week. In Europe, we are faced with a choice to either go at it alone as individual member states or to tackle the issue together – with the motto that nobody is left behind, that we display solidarity, which also lies at the heart of the European Union,” remarked Ambassador Wigemark, adding that a special chapter of the upcoming Opinion of the European Commission will provide an in-depth analysis of social policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Social Dimension Initiative was launched in 2018 as part of the endeavours of the German non-governmental organisation Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V (ASB) and local civil society organisations from the Western Balkans, supported by a group members of the European Parliament to enhance dialogue between the civil sector, citizens and political leaders both in the European Union and Western Balkans.

The Initiative acts “in strong belief that the European idea is one of solidarity and values, and of a decent life for all, and we remain assured that this aspect of EU integration is the most important for our citizens” and as was stated in the conclusions of the opening conference, held in Belgrade in 2018. During the opening conference, all Western Balkan social Ministers signed the Declaration on Improving Social Policy in the Western Balkans, initiating furthering improvement to social and employment policies and measures.

The European Union continues to support programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina that should directly contribute to improvements to the standard of living of the population, working with local authorities and civil society organisations to enable and create mechanisms and resources required to drive social and economic development.