Costa visits EUFOR troops: "Your mission is to keep the door to BiH's European future open"

"Your work as a part of Operation Althea is vital not only for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also for the security of the whole region. You are helping to protect peace and support a safe, stable environment in this country, which has come a long way since the war”, he said.

Costa said that, through the EUFOR Althea mission, the European Union is “showing that it can act together to protect peace, promote cooperation and support our shared values”.

“You are the face of this commitment, and you represent the best of what Europe can achieve when we stand united. Your mission signifies the importance that the European Union and their partners attach to the safety and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region”, he said.

“Peace is never something we can take for granted. It needs constant work and that is what you provide every day. The goal is not simply to preserve the peace of the past. It is to build the peace of the future. We want to see Bosnia and Herzegovina move from Dayton to Brussels, from post-war recovery to full European integration. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a European country with a European future and your mission is helping to keep that door open.

But the path to the European Union is not easy. It requires leadership, it requires responsibility, it requires unity. Political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a crucial role to play in protecting peace and security. They have a duty to defend the country's constitutional order, uphold the rule of law and protect citizens' interests”, Costa said.

He added that the best way forward for Bosnia and Herzegovina is to make progress in the European Union agenda and that the EU stands ready to support BiH on its path to membership.

“This is why your role here on the ground remains so important. Your presence gives space for diplomacy to work, it gives confidence to those working for reform and it sends a clear message that the European Union is serious about protecting peace and defending our values”, Costa said.