Ambassador Luigi Soreca, the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, together 14 EU Ambassadors and representatives of EU embassies to BiH visited Banja Luka on 16 May and to celebrate Europe Day in the city. The visit focused on young people and culture, and underlined the message that the door to the EU is open for the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"We are at the end of our trip that we started ten days ago in Zenica, followed then by events in Sarajevo, Mostar, Sutjeska National Park, Tuzla and now Banja Luka. The EU is not only regulations, directives, norms. It is a vision where people are at the centre. Here in Banja Luka, we are here together with 14 of my Ambassador colleagues to explain the concrete benefits that the EU brings to people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Republika Srpska, in Banja Luka.We want Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the EU, we need to focus back on this issue”, said Ambassador Soreca.

The visit coincided with the General Assembly of the European Students’ Union (ESU), which is being held in Banja Luka. With young people from across Europe, the Ambassadors discussed the role of youth in decision making processes as well as opportunities provided by the European Union and individual EU Member States for mobility, exchange and career building.

The Ambassadors also took part in the last of four EU accession simulation workshops for high school students held previously in Sarajevo, Mostar and Tuzla.  The workshop gave the students the opportunity to simulate the real world issues surrounding EU accession. Through collaborative sessions and moderated negotiations, participants engaged in realistic discussions about democratic reforms, human rights, economic integration, and the rule of law. The Ambassadors had the opportunity to discuss with the high school students what they had learnt.

With culture as an important focus, the Ambassadors also visited the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska, where they were given an engaging tour by the Museum’s Director Sarita Vujković. The Museum of Contemporary Art has received support from the EU’s Creative Europe Programme. 

The Ambassadors met representatives of civil society organisations and media to discuss the challenges that they face in light of the criminalisation of defamation in Republika Srpska and the “foreign agents” law. The Ambassadors underlined that the protection of fundamental rights and values is essential on the EU path, and that they will continue to provide support for civil society organisations. 

In the evening hours, at Banja Luka’s historic Kastel Fortress, the open-air concert Always in the Heart of Europe gathered citizens for a celebration of unity through music and culture. Featuring renowned Paris-based DJ Technasia as well as Nebs Jack, Stefan Ivanković, Jan Frost and Ivan Z, the concert brought the public together in a shared experience of community, culture and music - powerful symbols of unity, diversity and togetherness that lie at the core of the European spirit. 

Europe Day 2025 has been marked across Bosnia and Herzegovina with citizens, organisations and institutions underlying the strong partnership between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina and highlighting that the country is always in the heart of Europe.