Soreca: We will defend the international order in BiH, we remain committed to a single, whole and sovereign state

By Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Few understand the immense suffering of Ukrainians better than the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Across Ukraine, people continue to live under the constant threat of drones and missiles, in pain from the loss of loved ones, in fear of children going to sleep, and in worry whether the whole family will safely welcome the new day.

For the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this war is not just a conflict somewhere far away, but a painful reminder of their own past. In addition to empathy, people in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a deep understanding that lasting peace and security can only come through respect for international law, justice for victims of crimes, and stable and functional domestic institutions. Thirty years later, this process in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not yet complete. But for this process to even begin in Ukraine, a just peace must first be achieved as a guarantee of lasting security.

The Russian aggression has most affected Ukraine, but all Europeans, including those in Bosnia and Herzegovina, have suffered enormous consequences. Russian aggression has drastically deepened insecurity on our continent. Through hybrid warfare tactics, including the spread of disinformation, Russia has attempted to sow divisions across Europe, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region. Russia's actions have emboldened anti-democratic movements to question international and domestic frameworks based on the rule of law, as the backbone of our security. Narratives we thought were a thing of the past are resurfacing.

Prices, especially for energy and basic goods, have risen sharply, primarily affecting the most vulnerable. With over 100 million KM in financial assistance secured for the most vulnerable citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Energy Support Package, as well as an additional 40 million KM in the same package for the energy transition, the EU has tried to mitigate some of the effects of Russian actions. We remain with our partners.

Just as the war has had profound consequences, so will peace. Russia has proven time and again that it will not hesitate to use military force to achieve its goals, violating international law, including the UN Charter, while at the same time being a permanent member of the UN Security Council. No one wants peace more than Ukrainians, but any peace agreement must be sustainable. A bad deal can only lead to more war.

Sovereignty and territorial integrity are the cornerstones of the international order. And we will defend the international order in Ukraine with all the means at our disposal, just as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where we remain committed to the country's future in the European Union as a single, whole and sovereign state, as well as to preserving a safe and secure environment through the presence of EUFOR.

Today we mark the painful third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. Together with the ambassadors of EU member states, as well as our partners and international organizations, I welcomed Yaroslav Simonov, the Ukrainian Chargé d'Affaires in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the premises of the EU Delegation/Office of the EU Special Representative to express the EU's continued and full solidarity with Ukraine and our support for an inclusive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The European Union was founded after the horrors of World War II, with the aim of ensuring lasting peace in Europe.

We remain committed to these values – defending sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening democratic institutions and protecting human rights, and preserving peace, security, and justice – in Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and across our continent. Europe must remain a place where freedom prevails over oppression, dialogue over conflict, and law over force.