The Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina/EUSR welcomes the decision of the FBiH Government to appoint the Temporary Steering Board of the BiH National Museum which will lead hopefully very soon to the reopening of it. The EU also expects all relevant authorities to engage in a dialogue with a view to find a permanent solution for the status of the National Museum and any other cultural institutions with unclear status as soon as possible.

The National Museum is the oldest institution of its kind in BiH and the first one in the South Eastern Europe built with this specific purpose. It is an institution of the highest cultural, historical and scientific significance, preserving the cultural heritage of all people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its re-opening will have a great significance as it preserves cultural heritage not only of BiH and the Balkans but also of Europe. Its reopening will reaffirm what the EU stands for – promotion of cultural diversity, including the rich variety of its languages, arts and heritage of Europe.

The EU also welcomes the calls made by citizens, academia, cultural actors and institutions both nationally and internationally who all demanded the reopening of the National Museum. Responsible governance means protecting cultural institutions in BiH; we urge immediate talks between the responsible authorities to find a solution for any cultural institutions with unclear status. The EU will continue its engagement with the cultural institutions and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to preserve and promote the country’s heritage, at the same time promoting European values for the benefit of all people of BiH and Europe as a whole.

The EU continues to make significant investments in the preservation of the cultural heritage in BiH. From IPA 2009 and 2010 alone, the EU has invested 30 million KM in the preservation of the cultural heritage in BIH: 18 million KM was secured for the reconstruction of the City Hall/Vijecnica in Sarajevo which is a part of the larger EU support to the cultural heritage in BiH. This support also included the reconstruction of the City Hall in Novi Grad in the amount of two million KM which was completed in May 2013. The EU also financed the reconstruction of cultural heritage sites in Stolac in the amount of three million KM, which was completed in September 2013. The EU also finances the reconstruction on the Kastel Fortress in Banja Luka in the amount of seven million KM which is expected to be finished in 2015.