Speeches

BiH is now at a crucial point on its road to peace and I have four things to say to you tonight. First, when I became high representative over two years ago, the European union also appointed me as the first European Union special representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was because BiH is on the way to Europe.

I am delighted to be here today to mark an important day for this country. Later in the week we will open the MostarBridge. That is a big moment of closure on our war torn past. Today we are placing the keystone in the architecture of law and order, which will protect us in the future. Today, with the entry into force of the key laws establishi [...]

I see many familiar faces in the audience today. I am in good company. Since I took up my duties in Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than three years ago, I have been encouraged by the “can-do” attitude of certain sections of the community. I don’t find enough of this attitude among politicians, but I do find it among businesspeople. And that comes as [...]

The link between return and sustainable development is not unique to Bosnia and Herzegovina but it has become a serious factor here nonetheless. When, in the late nineties, the legacy of war -- anger and prejudice – began to dissipate, clearing the way for mass returns, and the legal and political system began to respond to the needs of those who [...]

Throughout the former Yugoslavia, the old rustbelt leviathans that once dominated the economy are being replaced by small and medium sized enterprises. This is not a neat, an easy or a painless process. It is complex, and it is fraught with social and economic dislocations. And that’s why the process is often engulfed in misunderstanding. This mi [...]

For some time now many of us in the International Community have been working on the framework of the economy in order to support BiH in its transition process. One of the clear requirements missing in BiH has been a modern Management Training program. There are many talented young entrepreneurs with a thirst for knowledge and up until now they h [...]

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address you today. Over the course of the past three years I have spent a good deal of time visiting various municipalities all over BIH. I have listened to mayors and citizens and they have made it very plain – the current system fails to deliver adequate services to the citizens as a whole, much less to [...]

One of the themes of this conference has been “empowerment”. You have gathered here for three days to discuss challenges facing our society – violence, HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation, unemployment. These issues affect all of us in one way or another. But we are not passive subjects. We can act and react. When we do that, when we seize the in [...]

It is an honour to address you today. We are here to mark another milestone in Europe’s mission here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to pay tribute to you, the men and women that embody the European Union’s commitment to this country. BiH’s rightful place is in the European Union. To get there, BiH will have to undertake the reforms and reach the st [...]

On Tuesday I had the opportunity to address a meeting of mayors and local government experts, organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation; yesterday I was in Vitez, to meet with mayors from Central Bosnia Canton, and today it is my very great pleasure to take part in this Council of Europe conference on local self-governance.