Bosnia and Herzegovina still lacks a broad dialogue on what the European integration means to the youth and how to overcome the obstacles on that road, the European Union (EU) representative in Bosnia, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, said in Sarajevo on Tuesday, speaking at an event dedicated to Austria's EU Presidency.

Austrian Embassy in Sarajevo and the Paneuropean Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized a conference ‘Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austrian Presidency of the EU’  at the Parliament's building which gathered the EU representatives, the EU member states’ ambassadors, experts, analysts and civil society representatives to discuss the main aspects of the EU enlargement process and Bosnia's integration into the Union.

Given that the election campaign in Bosnia has officially started, it is necessary to avoid political comments that might be wrongly interpreted, according to Wigemark, Head of the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“I believe that every sort of debate towards the European integration should be a part of political talks and the campaign,” he added.

Paneuropean Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina is trying to help in building the consensus of all actors in process of European integration, said Union Acting President, Haris Cutahija.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina has friends in the European Union's institutions, but that doesn't mean a lot until it launches processes and reforms,” Cutahija noted.

Austria took over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union on July 1, with the focus on security, fight against migrations, digitalization of the European economy and the stability of the neighbouring countries.

Martin Pammer, Austrian Ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina, hopes that Europe and reforms will be in the spotlight of the election campaign and that the political parties will use the energy to continue Bosnia's journey to Europe.

Austria advocates further enlargement of the EU, he stressed adding that his country has a great interest in Bosnia's progress.