Federica Mogherini Visits Bosnia and Herzegovina: Support for the European Education Path and International Cooperation

The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, met today in Sarajevo with the Rector of the College of Europe and former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Aurelie Valtat, Head of the European Integration, Political, and Economic Affairs Section at the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also attended the meeting.

Minister Bošnjak expressed her gratitude to Rector Mogherini for the continuous support to Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path toward EU membership and shared her expectation that Mogherini's contribution in her new role as Rector of the College of Europe, where she shares her rich diplomatic experience with young generations, will be beneficial for European integration efforts. The Minister also reminded her interlocutor of the role of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in international representation and coordination of educational initiatives.

The meeting focused on the challenges facing education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Minister particularly emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina's strategic goal is full integration into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and engagement in the implementation of the Bologna Process. She informed her counterpart that the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina falls under the jurisdiction of 11 cantonal, three entity ministries, as well as the Brčko District, which affects alignment with European standards.

The Minister stressed the importance of partnerships with institutions like the College of Europe, which enable international knowledge exchange, and expressed her hope that students from Bosnia and Herzegovina would recognize and take advantage of the opportunities offered.

Mogherini expressed her willingness to foster cooperation between the College of Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina and emphasized the College’s support in strengthening the application of European values in this region.