The EU Info Centre in BiH, in cooperation with the Art Academy in Banja Luka, organized a thematic exhibition of students’ artworks on water and environment, on 3 December in Banja Luka. After the opening of the exhibition, visitors had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on the EU programmes in the area of water and environment.
Dr Luka Kecman, Dean of the Banja Luka Art Academy, opened the exhibition and thanked the EU for enabling the students to express themselves on this important and universal topic.
Opening the panel discussion, Melvin Asin, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union, emphasised the significance of fight against climate change underlining the EU’s assistance in the environment sector in BiH. “Protecting our environment is the big challenge of our times”, said Asin recalling the Paris UN Climate Conference, a historic opportunity to put the world on course to meet the climate change challenge.
“The EU has committed approximately 90 million euro to the environment sector in BiH in the period of 2007 to 2011”, explained Asin, adding that the country-wide strategic planning at the state level was required for future funding.
All those present at the event had the opportunity to learn more about EU funding in the water and environment sector in BiH and in particular about the EU funded projects in area of Banja Luka.
Sanja Toljević, Head of the Implementation Unit in the Department of Utility and Housing Affairs and Transport in the City of Banja Luka presented the results of the project “Water supply and sewage collection in Banja Luka” and its direct impact on citizens of Banja Luka.
Valentina Balaban, Technical Manager at the company DEP-OT, presented the ongoing EU funded project “The rehabilitation of the old landfill and expansion of the existing landfill Ramići, near Banja Luka” and future benefits for the entire Banja Luka region.
Zoran Adžaip, representative of Centres for Civic Initiatives (CCI), in his presentation tackled the issue of plastic bag pollution in BiH and presented the results of the project “Reducing of plastic bags usage in BiH”.
The panel discussion focused in particular on the benefits and advantages of current and future EU programmes in the area of water and environment.
The EU Info Centre has invited four Academies of Fine Arts in BiH to produce artworks on the topics of cultural and natural heritage (Trebinje); water and environment (Banja Luka); human rights (Sarajevo); and children and education (Široki Brijeg). Following the events in Trebinje and in Banja Luka, the exhibitions and panel discussions will take place in Sarajevo and Široki Brijeg in the coming months. The final exhibition of students’ artworks from all four academies will be held in Banja Luka. A selection committee consisting of representatives of the four art academies will award one winner from each art academy with a study visit to one of Europe’s best art academies, the Brera Fine Arts Academy in Milan.
The EU Info Centre is a project funded by the European Union with the aim of increasing the knowledge of citizens of BiH on the EU, its programmes and policies, as well as on relations between BiH and the EU.
