Strengthening Bosnian Civil Society: Creating European Perspectives
Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at a meeting during the Europa-Forum Wachau on June 23, 2023.
Photo: BMEIA/Gruber
Foreign Minister Schallenberg and US Special Envoy Escobar underline strong Austrian-American commitment to a future-ready Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On 22 and 23 June 2023, the first workshop "Speak Up: Engaging young political leaders and civil society in the Western Balkans. Edition: Bosnia and Herzegovina" took place at the Europa-Forum Wachau, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department. The workshop focused on the geostrategic necessity of ensuring stability in the Western Balkans and firmly anchoring it within the Western community of values, with the participation of representatives from politics, civil society, and the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora.
On the second day of the workshop, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar met with the participants to emphasize the strong Austrian-American engagement for a stronger Euro-Atlantic integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The exchange between Bosnian population groups and new approaches in cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina are more important than ever to bind the country to the Western value system in the long term. The Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as tensions in the immediate neighbourhood between Serbia and Kosovo, have reshuffled the geopolitical landscape. One thing is clear: Together with the United States, we must continue to listen and work on solutions for a Euro-Atlantic future for Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized Foreign Minister Schallenberg.
According to Foreign Minister Schallenberg, Bosnia and Herzegovina stands at a crossroads. The granting of EU candidate status in December 2022 was an important political signal for the country's future in the EU family. Now, it is important to actively support the necessary reforms through further engagement, a common understanding shared by Austria and the United States.
Austria is a true friend of the Western Balkans. It is crucial that the international community involves the next generations of leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I look forward to a broad dialogue that advances our commitment to the democratic and Euro-Atlantic ambitions of the region, stated US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Escobar on the sidelines of the workshop.
The workshop marked the beginning of a long-term dialogue at the Europa-Forum Wachau. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department support the young Bosnian generation in actively shaping their own future. The Bosnian diaspora in Austria plays an important role as a bridge between the two states. The goal of the workshop was to develop concrete solutions, perspectives, and recommendations together for Bosnia and Herzegovina's European path.