01.10.2002 ROYAL DANISH EMBASSY

Meeting of the Council of the European Union, Monday 30 September 2002

The Council of the European Union met on 30 September 2002 in Brussels and discussed, among other agenda items, the situation in the Western Balkans.

The Council noted the recent visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina by High Representative Solana and Commissioner Patten and agreed that the Road Map was now substantially completed due to further progress by the Bosnian authorities. This moves Bosnia and Herzegovina forward towards Europe.

In this context, the Council emphasised the crucial importance of the 5 October general elections, which will offer the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina the opportunity to elect a government that will take their country further down the road to European integration. It adopted the following “Message to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

Message to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina

from the Council of the European Union

You will face a crucial choice in the 5 October general elections: You must decide whether or not to vote for reform, prosperity and a promising future as part of mainstream Europe.

We encourage you to turn out in strength to vote on election day. Your vote will make a difference just as voters in your neighbouring countries have made a difference. We encourage you to give a mandate to those who are genuinely committed to the economic and legal reforms that Bosnia and Herzegovina needs.

You can not change the past, but you can shape your future. We urge you to seize this chance to do so.