Dear Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a
real pleasure to be here with you today at this conference on a subject –
very close to my own heart – but more importantly an essential subject
on the overall agenda of the European Union in the Western Balkans
region. The EU is happy to be associated with the work of the
authorities in Bosnia & Herzegovina that eventually will ensure (i)
adequate social protection policies, (ii) modern social protection
services, including (iii) specific support for children with
disabilities.

It is important that these aims are met. First and
foremost for the well being of the citizens of Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The European Commission's 2013 Progress Report noted that, and I quote:

“As regards the socially vulnerable and people with
disabilities, some limited steps have been taken to harmonise the social
protection systems of the Cantons, introducing a social minimum for
financial benefits. Entitlement to rights and benefits for the disabled
is still based on status, not on needs. As a result, some categories of
persons with disabilities do not receive adequate benefits. The
implementation of the social protection legislative framework remains
weak in both Entities.”

The necessary funds available to keep the
social protection and inclusion policies on track will depends on
conscientious and consistent policy decision-making in all responsible
layers of government.  

We are fully aware that the financial
benefits and services provided by the respective authorities in Bosnia
and Herzegovina are in some cases not sufficient to prevent families
from falling into poverty. We also are aware that many vulnerable
categories of citizens do not receive adequate protection. We know that
efforts have been made to address and correct this, but those efforts
must be strengthened.

We are also fully aware that Bosnia and
Herzegovina is addressing these issues in a difficult economic climate.
The financial crisis had a severe negative impact on the Bosnian economy
– an impact that has led to the fact that the economy has not yet
recovered to the GDP level attained in 2008. In 2012, youth unemployment
increased to over 60% for the first time.

In addition, if the
respective governments are to reduce their budget deficits to two per
cent of GDP, formulating and implementing policies to maintain social
protection will be a challenge.

This is another reason why the
European Commission is particularly happy to be a true partner of a
Bosnia & Herzegovina, by providing support to the project for the
Social Protection and Inclusion of children currently in the amount of
1.4 million Euro (altogether four phases to be supported by the EU with
4.5 Mio EUR).

A word on the methodology. For Bosnia and
Herzegovina to be able to deliver (i) adequate social protection
policies, (ii) modern social protection services, including (iii)
specific support for children with disabilities – the country needs
internal coordination.

In order to bring the reform process
forward in social protection, it is essential to ensure a continued
vertical and horizontal coordination on social protection and inclusion.
This mechanism could be for example based on an eventual overall
coordination mechanism on EU matters.

For reasons well known to
the public, the European Union believes that an overall coordination
mechanism for EU matters needs to be established as a matter of urgency.
The European Union Foreign ministers have expressed this on several
occasions through the past couple of years. For that to happen, we will
need to see the political courage and decisiveness to take Bosnia &
Herzegovina forward on its EU path. The eventual successful
establishment of this Coordination Mechanism will ensure that EU rules
and standards will be implemented equally across the country and that EU
financial assistance will support the agreed priorities.

Back to
our subject today. In order to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina to
eventually become eligible for the future IPA 2 funding in this area, a
comprehensive consultation process was very ably managed and run by our
implementing partner UNICEF. A set of Common and Individual Goals were
identified by the relevant stakeholders in Republika Srpska, the
Federation of BiH, and Brčko District. Based on these Common Goals, a
set of Common Social Indicators were then identified to monitor the
progress towards addressing the pressing social problems and priorities
throughout BiH – they will be introduced later today and I trust they
can command your support.

It is my personal hope that today's
conference will bring us further along the way to agreement on the
future of Social Inclusion and Protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This is necessary not only from the financial IPA 2 perspective, but
more importantly from the perspective of Bosnia & Herzegovina's
citizens: children, women, people with disabilities, and others who
deserve to receive the adequate financial and other support.

In
order for us collectively to succeed it is essential that all
authorities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina provide an effective
follow-up to the common indicators to be agreed. The EU is here to
assist Bosnia and Herzegovina on its road to the European Union and the
ensuring of equal access to rights and a better future for its citizens.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a successful conference.