President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso paid a one-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday 8 April, as part of his tour to several countries of South Eastern Europe.

He was accompanied by Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, Deputy Director-General of European Commission’s Directorate General for Enlargement Stefano Sannino and Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia in the European External Action Service Miroslav Lajčak.

During his visit, President Barroso met Members of the BiH Presidency Nebojša Radmanović, Bakir Izetbegović and Željko Komšić, and addressed BiH participants of the “Parliament for Europe“, an initiative which brings EU representatives and experts together with BiH parliamentarians at state, entity and Brcko District level to discuss European policy making and the most effective ways of meeting the EU accession requirements.

Full text of the address is available here VIDEO: Address by President Barroso at the “Parliament for Europe”

Following the meeting with the BiH Presidency Members, President Barroso stated:

“Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to become a member of the European Union. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a part of the European family and has a European future. The EU is ready to help you through its reinforced presence and policies, and substantial aid. But Bosnia and Herzegovina has to do its own part.“

VIDEO: Statement by President Barroso following his meeting with the BiH Presidency