European Union ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina Johann Sattler met with the leaders of the executive and legislative authorities in the Tuzla Canton on Thursday to discuss energy-related issues, economy, and the latest cases of femicide in that canton.

After the meeting, Sattler said that the Tuzla Canton is an important part of Bosnia and Herzegovina that can play a significant role in the framework of Euro-Atlantic integration.

“Today we discussed the Euro-Atlantic integration and concluded that we should act on this plan without delay, and I am optimistic that we will have positive news by the end of March. The process of European integration is not limited only to the area of Sarajevo, but to the entire society and the cantons can certainly play a significant role and that was the second topic we discussed, that is, what cantons can do in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration,'” he noted.

Tuzla Canton is one of ten cantons with their own governments, which together make the Federation BiH, one of Bosnia's two entities. Other entity, Republika Srpska has a relatively centralised government. Both entities equally participate in the state-level institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ambassador of Slovenia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Damijan Sedar, was also a part of the delegation visiting the area.

“Slovenia believes in BiH's European path. You have our support and we are confident that the next step can be taken. I believe that March will be a little different this year. BiH has the capacity for EU membership,” he stressed.

Tuzla Canton Prime Minister Irfan Halilagic informed the officials about the activities that were carried out in the canton over the past period and those planned for the future.

“We have exchanged the views and the hand of the European Union was extended to us, and we objectively have a place in the EU. Tuzla Canton is actively working on that path,” Halilagic said.