Sarajevo and Barcelona mayors open new chapter of cooperation

The meeting focused on the possibility of formalizing future cooperation, as well as joint projects in culture, education, sports, green policies and the Olympic legacy.

Sarajevo Mayor Samir Avdic recalled that Sarajevo and Barcelona share a particularly strong bond – from their Olympic legacy and the friendship built during the siege of Sarajevo to numerous joint initiatives developed by the two cities over nearly three decades.

“Barcelona and Sarajevo have excellent relations, first and foremost as Olympic cities, but also as cities connected by a deep bond dating back to the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the siege of Sarajevo. Today, we discussed the future of our relations, and I proposed that we officially sign an agreement between Barcelona and Sarajevo,” Avdic said.

He believes such an agreement would create opportunities for concrete cooperation on projects of mutual interest.

“We want to cooperate on projects related to green policies, the Olympic legacy we share as Olympic cities, as well as culture, education and sports. It is important that we all contribute and turn the friendship between Sarajevo and Barcelona into concrete projects,” the Mayor said.

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni thanked his hosts for the reception and said Sarajevo and Barcelona were entering a new phase in their relationship, one in which they want to develop new partnership projects while preserving their shared legacy and experience of peacebuilding.

“Today, we discussed the relations we have built over almost 30 years, but also new areas of cooperation. We no longer want to act only in the way we have over the previous decades; we want to be partners in new projects and jointly build the future,” Collboni said.

He particularly highlighted the historical role of Manel Vila, an honorary citizen of Sarajevo, who visited the besieged city during the war and helped build ties between Sarajevo and Barcelona.

“We received a message from the daughters and sons of people who survived the war in Sarajevo and those who witnessed the development of cooperation between our two cities. Their message is clear: our fathers built peace and friendship, and we want to build the future,” Collboni said.

In this context, the Barcelona mayor invited Mayor Avdic to participate in the Euromed conference, which brings together Mediterranean cities. Sarajevo has not previously participated in the network, and Collboni announced his support for its inclusion in future activities.

The goal, Mayor Collboni stressed, is to expand the existing cooperation, which has primarily been based on peacebuilding and friendship, into concrete projects that will connect Sarajevo and Barcelona as European and Olympic cities.