"I welcome the positive messages from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially her support for pro-European reforms and her solidarity with BiH after the recent devastating floods," said Davor Ivo Stier, head of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with BiH and Kosovo, in a statement to FENA.

Stier expressed particular satisfaction that von der Leyen mentioned activating the Solidarity Fund, a step he and the delegation advocated for immediately after floods hit Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 4.

In the next two days, Stier will lead the European Parliament delegation through a series of meetings in Sarajevo, including a session of the Parliamentary Stabilization and Association Committee, which gathers representatives from the European Parliament and Bosnia’s Parliamentary Assembly.

This session marks the first committee meeting since the election of the new European Parliament. While its primary role is as a forum for discussion, Stier hopes it will evolve into a platform for deepened dialogue between the EU and BiH.

“This is the fifth meeting of the Parliamentary Stabilization and Association Committee, and maintaining continuity in this dialogue is essential,” Stier emphasized. “When I assumed this role, I announced that a committee meeting would be scheduled soon, and we have worked on the EP side to ensure it. I am grateful for the same commitment from our BiH counterparts. For years, these meetings did not occur, even though they are the third of 14 key priorities for BiH on its EU path. This platform is crucial not just for sharing views and supporting reforms, but also for hearing from our colleagues in BiH’s parliament, whether from the coalition or the opposition. A broad consensus on the EU path is vital for BiH.”

During the meetings in Sarajevo, the delegation will also plan the sixth meeting of the committee, scheduled to take place next year in Strasbourg.

Stier further announced that on Tuesday and Wednesday, the delegation would meet with representatives of non-governmental organizations and religious communities in BiH, which play an important role in both the EU and Bosnia.

“Bosnia’s future in the EU lies in the hands of its people and their elected leaders, and we will closely follow and support that journey toward full EU membership,” Stier said in his interview with FENA.

Discussing the atmosphere in the newly elected European Parliament, Stier noted that the delegation includes members from diverse political groups. A preparatory meeting was held in Strasbourg, confirming the delegation’s mandate to support BiH’s European journey, regardless of ideological differences among its members.

Davor Ivo Stier, a Croatian MEP from the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and an experienced diplomat, also served as Croatia's Foreign Minister. Recently appointed as head of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with BiH and Kosovo, Stier continues to play a prominent role in fostering stronger EU ties in the region.