Responding to a media query about EU work to assist the promotion of the rights of LGBTI people in BiH, EUD/EUSR spokesperson Andy McGuffie said:
 
“The EU stands fully behind equal rights for and non-discrimination against LGBTI people. The fundamental rights of all citizens must be upheld in a healthy democracy, subject to the laws and regulations in force, and this includes of course freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. We believe that those wishing to exercise their rights and the authorities who have responsibility for public order should arrive at mutually acceptable solutions with regard to specific events.
 
“In Bosnia and Herzegovina the EU supports a wide range of activities to promote the rights of LGBTI people in society including awareness raising, training of public officials and changes to the legal framework. The project “Coming out: Advocating promotion and protection of rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights” is funded by the EU from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in the amount of 180,000 EUR. It is implemented by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Sarajevo Open Centre and the Foundation Cure. We have ongoing partnership work with members of the LGBTI community and were pleased that LGBTI rights was one of a number of issues discussed by civil society members with HR/VP Mogherini and Commissioner Hahn during their visit in BiH last Friday.”