To mark the day when Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted candidate status for the membership in the European Union, nine central bridges of Sarajevo were lit up in blue on Friday evening.

“Like these age-old symbols that connect and bring together, we also need and must work together to overcome the challenges towards a better and nicer future for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” mayor Benjamina Karic said on this occasion.

The EU's office in Sarajevo joined the celebration saying that the candidate status is an important sign that Bosnia and Herzegovina has a place in the European Union, and that this is the way to celebrate it “in a symbolic way.”

“We believe in the European future of BiH”, said the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following the recommendations of the European Commission in October and vote of the ministers at the EU Council earlier this week, the European Council officially granted BiH the candidate status on Thursday.