Chairman Bevanda, Prime Minister, Ministers, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. 

Dear Friends of the European Union.

Welcome to the Official Reception to mark 9th May – Europe Day. I am very glad to be your host tonight and I hope that you will enjoy the evening.

This year we are marking the European Year of the Citizen 2013, so it is appropriate that we began this formal part of the evening with the voices of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is their wishes and hopes that we strive to satisfy with our joint work.

As we heard, their main wish is for a better life and more prosperity. And the overwhelming majority of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina think that membership of the European Union will help to bring that about, and they demand that the country makes progress in EU integration.

More widely, the countries of the Western Balkans region have drawn the same conclusion, and are taking further steps on their EU accession paths. Their eventual goal is leading them to conclude agreements and find sustainable compromises on difficult issues.

Just as for the other countries, the European Union is here to lend our assistance, both financially and politically. We are here to be your partner in reform and modernization – and we will be here for the long term. We have shown that we put our money and efforts where our mouths are.

The EU perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina is strongly supported by all 27 Member States. We want to see Bosnia and Herzegovina join. We believe eventual membership – and even before that the process to get there – will bring better conditions for people,  like those we saw in the movie clip,  to find jobs and prosper.

Time is moving on – and we need to make sure we move with it. There is a great need to use what is left of the Year of the Citizen to take action – for their benefit. Rest assured – my entire staff and I will keep our working gloves on – ready to be the partner that Bosnia  and  Herzegovina needs  and deserves.

Allow me one final word to the 156 dedicated colleagues of mine – thank you very much for the great work you have done, since we embarked on the project of enhancing the EUs presence in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The effort and dedication you put into your work serves as exemplary model for all in this country. Thank you for that.

To our guests tonight – once again  thank you for your attention and I wish you a very enjoyable evening.