Luigi Soreca

We have launched #EU4Energy, a new platform showcasing 🇪🇺 support to the energy transition in 🇧🇦. The EU remains a key partner in this process, providing financial & technical support for reforms, renewable energy & energy efficiency. Discover more 👉 eu4energy.ba

Today, we opened a new high-security detention complex on Igman, built with EU financial support. 🇪🇺 invested 9.5 million BAM in this modern facility. It is in line with European standards, & helps enhance #ruleoflaw & security in 🇧🇦. We continue to be a loyal partner to BiH.

Important discussions today at the Ambassadors' Roundtable at Camp Butmir hosted by @euforbih 🇪🇺 Commander Major General Maurizio Fronda and @natobih Commander Brigadier General Matthew Valas. Great exchange about the political and security situation in 🇧🇦BiH. We underlined our continued collective dedication to working together in order to help maintain the safe and secure environment and ensure long-term stability. #EUFOR Althea remains a crucial element of our support to BiH and its institutions. Additionally, yesterday the EU authorised a third support package for BiH Armed Forces, worth €15 million, that will help boost their military and defence capacities. The EU remains unequivocally committed to BiH's territorial integrity, sovereignty and constitutional order. The doors to the EU membership are also open, and we will continue to support progress on this path as the best guarantee of further prosperity and stability. 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

The EU 🇪🇺 is investing €10 million in a new grant to support road modernisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦! This grant will facilitate further large investments by international financial institutions like the @EBRD, @EIB and @WorldBankGroup. It is expected that up to €300 million will be mobilised. Very glad to be present for the launch of this initiative with EBRD VP Matteo Patrone, Head of EBRD in BiH Stela Melnić, FBiH Minister for Transport & Communications Andrijana Katić and RS Minister for Transport and Communications Zoran Stevanović. Proper road infrastructure is essential across numerous spheres - from transport and the economy, to tourism, to safer and faster travel for citizens. Our support is clear. We continue to stand with BiH as dedicated partners. 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

The EU 🇪🇺 continues to invest in stability and security in BiH 🇧🇦. Today, the the EU has authorised a new €15 million package to support the 🇧🇦BiH Armed Forces. This is the third measure through the European Peace Facility directly for BiH. There was also another recent package for medical units in armed forces across the Western Balkans. This brings the total amount of money allocated by the EU to the Armed Forces of BiH to almost €50 million since 2021. Our supports helps strengthen the military and defence capabilities of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including strengthening interoperability and operational readiness. We remain a loyal and committed partner to 🇧🇦 BiH. 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

Good exchange with Prime Minister of Una Sana Canton Mustafa Ružnić and USC Assembly Speaker Nisvet Jusić in Bihać, together with Ambassadors and representatives of Embassies of 🇦🇹🇪🇸🇮🇪🇷🇴🇸🇮 to BiH 🇧🇦! The EU remains a loyal parter to citizens in Una Sana Canton, and across BiH, investing in projects that improve the quality of life. We spoke about the EU integration process and the significant role cantonal and local authorities have in ensuring membership requirements are met and bringing EU standards closer to citizens. #ED2026 #OurFutureOurEurope 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

Today, in Banja Luka, with Mayor @Stanivukovic_D and Minister @MKPBiH Forto, we launched the roll out of free public Wi-Fi in 116 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, funded by the EU 🇪🇺 and Germany 🇩🇪! We frequently call on the authorities in BiH to use the available opportunities offered by the EU for the benefit of citizens. By being proactive, 116 municipalities have succeeded in joining over 7,000 local authorities across the continent who have free, reliable public wifi in squares, parks and museums. The EU path is most of all about people, and across BiH, we see EU investments in schools, hospitals, roads, wind and solar farms, playgrounds etc. It is not just a matter of investment and economic growth, is about what kind of country people want to live in. We are bound together by history, values and geography. We are Europeans, and we should be united in the European Union. Together with 11 EU Ambassadors and Embassies, we are happy to celebrate #EuropeDay in Banja Luka, a European city, with a European future! #OurEuropeOurFuture

This is Europe! As a continent with thousands of years of history, Europe is many things. At the heart of both the defeat of fascism in Europe and the birth of the European project is one idea: freedom. Last night, thousands of people — including a few Ambassadors! — celebrated freedom and a future in the EU at free #EuropeDay concerts in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. In Sarajevo, they gathered in front of the Parliamentary Assembly building; in Banja Luka, on the roof of the House of Youth. In both cities, they celebrated the idea that there is more that unites us than divides us. Our future is Europe! 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦 #OurFutureOurEurope #ED2026

The European Film Days🎬in Banja Luka brings great films from across Europe - 🇨🇾🇩🇰🇮🇪🇬🇷🇭🇺🇳🇱🇸🇪- for free to audiences in the city until 16 May. The EU was built on the idea that there is more that unites us than divides us. Connecting people through culture is one of Europe's greatest strengths! Thank you to everyone who joined our opening night in Banja Luka tonight! Great atmosphere! 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

Delighted to be in Banja Luka for #EuropeDay as part of our celebrations across BiH! With Ambassadors and representatives of ten EU member states - 🇦🇹🇨🇿🇩🇰🇩🇪🇪🇸🇮🇪🇮🇹🇸🇰🇸🇪🇷🇴 - we are celebrating what unites us across our continent! I was very glad to see so many people - particularly young people - at the "Night of Fortresses Goes Green" in Kastel. The fortress has been extensively renovated with 🇪🇺 support and today's event showed how heritage can be presented in an engaging way to new generations. A big thank you to Mayor @Stanivukovic_D for the warm welcome! 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦 #ED2026 #OurFutureOurEurope

Great energy at the opening of the "Future is the EU" Youth Summit around #EuropeDay 🇪🇺 80 young participants from 22 🇧🇦communities have come together to develop a joint vision for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU path and future. This youth-led process, initiated by the 🇪🇺 in BiH Youth Advisory Board, and supported by @eu_eeas and @eubih, has one clear goal - to deliver BiH young people’s vision directly to EU leadership. The future is the EU, and tonight, it looks bright. 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

The EU🇪🇺 is committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina's future in the EU at the very highest levels. For #EuropeDay, @eucopresident Antonio Costa delivered a special message to BiH citizens: "Dear citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I am addressing you today as future members of the European Union. On Europe Day, we celebrate our common European project, when our founding members chose unity over division, and cooperation over conflict. They decided to build a future of peace, freedom and prosperity on the ashes of the Second World War. We believe your future is in the European Union. A lot of hard work is taking place to make it happen. The next step in your accession process is to open negotiations. You can make it, if you manage to build consensus in the country. Together, we will build a shared European future. Long live Europe!" 🇪🇺🇧🇦

News reporting and newsrooms change are evolving every day. Today, I was happy to join young people in trying to imagine what they will look like in a decade. "2036 Newsroom - Europe Daily" workshop brought together high school students in an interactive newsroom format to explore Europe's future. 🙏 Thank you to all who joined this event as part of our #EuropeDay celebrations! #ED2026 #OurFutureOurEurope

Good meeting with #Sarajevo Mayor Samir Avdić as we mark #EuropeDay and the defeat of fascism in Europe. Glad that there will be many events in the next days to celebrate. We discussed again the important role local communities have in the 🇪🇺EU integration process. Much of the most essential work for citizens takes place at local level. We also spoke about EU projects in the city and the continued support that the EU provides for citizens in the capital. #PovezaniKrozDobro 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

Every year in May, we celebrate an idea that is both simple and highly ambitious. The idea that countries, even after the most difficult chapters of their history, can choose cooperation over conflict and build something stronger together. Thank you to everyone who joined us this evening for a reception to celebrate Europe Day, and the vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous continent. Bosnia and Herzegovina's future is in the EU. I was particularly glad to be joined by talented young people Afan Huseinspahić and Ivana Vučetić. Young people are those in BiH who will benefit most from progress towards an EU future. The citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to defy expectations. We saw this when the country qualified for this summer’s World Cup - painful as this is for me as an Italian to admit! But seeing the happiness of BiH friends and colleagues and what qualifying means for them more than makes up for it! It is time now for political actors to use the same determination shown by the football team to make progress on the EU path! 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦 eeas.europa.eu/delegations/bo…

Glad to kick-off our #EuropeDay activities opening a remarkable exhibition - "I am Here, You are Not - Postcards from Europe" by BiH artist Filip Andronik. These illustrated postcards capture places, moments in time, emotions and experiences to tell a story of connections that unite us across the continent. They also reflect on all that connects the EU 🇪🇺 and BiH 🇧🇦, and reminds us that Europe is shaped by our shared stories. #ED2026 #OurFutureOurEurope

Good meeting with @unirmct Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz to discuss the state of play as regards the processing of war crimes cases in BiH as well as the next steps regarding the future of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), ahead of the UN Security Council in June. The EU🇪🇺 remains committed to ensuring justice for victims and addressing the legacy of the past. Ensuring continuity is essential following the progressive phase out of the IRMCT. In view of the Revised National War Crimes Strategy, it is moreover important to intensify work in this area, including by strengthening regional cross-border cooperation mechanisms for dealing with such cases.

Safety of journalists & media freedom are vital for any democratic society & remain among key priorities for BiH's 🇪🇺 path. On #WorldPressFreedomDay we highlight the importance of protecting the media. Contact Points in 🇧🇦 prosecutors’ offices & police are a good step forward.

Glad to give opening remarks and to participate in the first Consultative Forum for the Reform Agenda in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organised by @tibihorg, which opened with a video message from Commissioner @MartaKosEU. Bosnia and Herzegovina has solid economic foundations, including an educated population, an industrial tradition and a strategic location. But this potential is not being used sufficiently. The Reform Agenda of the Growth Plan helps tackle existing challenges and is designed to support improvements in digitalisation, clean energy, private sector development, human capital and rule of law. These steps will make the country more competitive, more attractive for investment and a better place to live. The voice of civil society, chambers of commerce, academia, and other non-institutional actors is key in monitoring the progress of authorities in implementing the Reform Agenda and building public pressure for action. There is a cost to inaction. Without reforms, EUR 373 million is now at risk. On top of EUR 108 million already lost. This is funding that could help develop infrastructure, renewable energy, schools and other important projects. Time is running out. Action is needed now. 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦

Thank you to BiH Attorney General Almina Pilav for joining our meeting of EU Ambassadors today and providing an overview of the current situation for the Office of the BIH Attorney General and its work. The Office plays a key role for disputes over essential issues such as state property and arbitration cases, some of which expose the country to serious financial risks. The EU and its Member States continue to support the Office's valuable work. 🇪🇺🤝🇧🇦