EESC President Leads Key Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina : Civil Society and EU Accession in Focus

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) concluded a high-profile mission to Sarajevo on 14-15 October 2024, led by EESC President Oliver Röpke and the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee. The mission aimed to strengthen ties with civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina and monitor and discuss the country's progress toward EU accession.

During the mission, President Röpke emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina should seize the current political momentum to advance on the EU enlargement path. He stressed that the country must adopt its reform agenda as soon as possible to fully leverage the opportunities provided by the New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Furthermore, there was a great interest from authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EESC’s proposal to establish a country-specific monitoring committee, composed of social partners and civil society, to oversee the implementation of the Growth Plan. Such a committee would ensure a transparent process and well-coordinated reforms with the full participation of civil society and social partners.

On 15 October, a major conference took place at Europe House in Sarajevo, gathering civil society representatives, social partners, and government officials. President Röpke, alongside Andrej Zorko, President of the Western Balkans Follow-up Committee, opened the event with welcoming speeches. H.E. Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, also addressed the participants. The discussions centered on civic space, social dialogue, and the role of Bosnia and Herzegovina in future EU accession negotiations.

“Civil society is the backbone of democracy and plays a crucial role in advancing Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path toward EU membership” President Röpke emphasized during his opening address, highlighting the critical importance of civil society in shaping Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European future.

During the mission, President Röpke held a series of bilateral meetings with key Bosnian political leaders, including Dubravka Bošnjak, Minister of Civil Affairs, and Louis Crishock, Principal Deputy High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the appointed Regional Cooperation Council Secretary General, Amer Kapetanović.  These meetings provided a valuable opportunity to engage in open dialogue on the socio-economic and political challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the country’s next steps on the EU integration path.

Additionally, President Röpke participated in a notable interview with O Kanal, where he discussed the outcomes of the mission and reiterated the EESC’s commitment to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession efforts, while emphasizing the vital role of civil society in this journey​.

The EESC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovinas progress toward EU membership, emphasizing the importance of inclusive civil society participation in policy-making and reform processes.