Mrs. Djapo started her career as a civil servant in the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1999. Since then she has completed a Master’s Degree in International Economics and obtained a PhD in the same subject. She has worked as a lecturer at the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology and at the International University of Sarajevo. She has also been a research associate at the Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. Before taking up the position of Deputy Minister of Finance, she was assistant professor at the International University of Sarajevo. In July 2014, she visited Brussels and Strasbourg within the framework of the EU Visitors Programme (EUVP). EUVP’s aim is to enable young current or emerging leaders in government, politics, the media and other key fields from non-member countries to visit the institutions of the European Union and to increase the mutual understanding between professionals from non-EU countries and their EU counterparts.

What was the goal of your visit to Brussels and the EU Visitors EUVP Programme?

The aim of my visit was to become acquainted with the principles of work of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Europe, as well as the people who implement certain policies. EUVP is an interactive programme where you have a series of meetings with relevant professionals, but also with decision-makers, in order to deepen cooperation, exchange of ideas and mutual understanding. My goals have been to examine the possibility of BiH joining the family of EU countries, the use of pre-accession funds (IPA), the economic policy of the EU and the position of BiH in this regard, as well as the education system in the EU, in order to draw parallels with the system that we have in BiH and derive lessons.

How much did you learn about the functioning of EU institutions and policies?

During the programme, I obtained a clear picture of how economic policy is created and the mechanics of enlargement of the European Union. This will be of great help in my future professional work. In addition to the deepening of professional knowledge and understanding of the EU and how it functions, I was given the opportunity through a series of meetings to exchange views on the current position of BiH and future opportunities. EUVP is an intellectual investment that not only helps us crystallize our answers to certain questions, but also to understand the process of integration, and to feel the power of unification through contacts with people who, though they come from different countries, promote the same values and jointly strive towards improvement of the social order.

What are your main impressions and what impressed you most of all?

My impressions are very positive. What impressed me the most were the innovative ways that the EU has helped member countries at different times and in different modes; this also applies to those countries still in the process of joining. The EU has established a democratic system that is guided by principles of tolerance and fairness. It is a dynamic system that is ever changing and adapting to new situations. I was deeply impressed by the work of institutions, the professionalism of staff and the keen insights and openness of decision makers. I hope that my experience will help me make a meaningful contribution to the integration of BiH into the EU.

Do you think the EUVP visit will help you in your future work? Has BiH made progress towards integration into the EU?

EUVP is a fantastic, flexible educational programme that helps to establish contacts and enables the exchange of views on topics of common interest. In this regard, EUVP helps each participant to develop personally and professionally. During my stay, I noticed that in all EU institutions, BiH is seen as a country that by its geographical location, its historical heritage and standards of education belongs to the family of European countries. However, to become a member of the EU, each country, including BiH, must meet the established criteria for admission. Countries in our neighbourhood have improved on their road towards the EU. Slovenia and Croatia are full members, FYROM has been granted candidate status, while Montenegro, Serbia and Albania have opened negotiations on membership with the EU. BiH, due to the inability to carry out certain reforms, is slightly lagging behind other countries in the region. However, I hope and believe that BiH will soon undertake the necessary steps and obtain candidate status.

How high is BiH on the list of EU priorities?

Each country must fulfil certain obligations and reach the set criteria in the process of joining the European family of nations. The EU has demonstrated its interest in BiH through a new approach based on economic development, expanding structural dialogue and training of BiH professionals to absorb pre-accession funds. The new approach has been defined with the aim of helping BiH to make progress socially, economically and legally. More than any other country in the region, BiH has faced the greatest challenges in all these spheres, and this is recognized by the EU. Hence, it follows that the EU is ready to help us in overcoming all obstacles on the path to integration.