Europe Day 2026: Ambassador Soreca and EU Ambassadors visit Banja Luka

Europe Day 2026: Ambassador Soreca and EU Ambassadors visit Banja Luka

Ambassador Luigi Soreca, the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with EU Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives of 10 EU member states (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden) visited Banja Luka on 9 May as part of the Europe Day celebrations taking place across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The visit focused on the impact of EU support for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the power of art and culture to bring people together.

"At its core, the European Union is built on a simple idea: that there is far more that unites us than divides us. Throughout May, we celebrate peace and unity in Europe, our shared values, and our diversity - recalling our common history, culture and roots, and our belonging to the same European family. It is a pleasure to spend Europe Day in Banja Luka. Europe Day is an occasion to reflect on cooperation and partnership, recognise what has been achieved together, and underline the importance of continued joint work in addressing common challenges", stated Ambassador Soreca.

Together with the Mayor of Banja Luka, Draško Stanivuković, Ambassadors joined the celebrations of the Night of Fortresses at the historic Kastel fortress in Banja Luka. This regional initiative, aiming to connect cultural heritage with environmental responsibility, enabled visitors to enjoy performances, workshops and entertaining tournaments which celebrate rich heritage of the location.

At the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska, Ambassador Soreca and Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to BiH, Adrian Farell, opened the first edition of European Film Days in Banja Luka with a screening of the Irish documentary "Brendan Gleeson's Farewell to Hughes's" (2024). Until 16 May, there will be free screenings of films from the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Slovenia, Hungary and Cyprus.

In the evening hours, the rooftop of Dom omladine was full of energy for a Garden of Youth concert featuring performances by global and local electronic music talents. The headliner of the evening was Guy Mantzur, a globally recognized name in the electronic music scene who was joined by regional stars Coeus, Nebs Jack, Mladen Tomić, and Ivan Z.

The visit to Banja Luka continues today with the launch of the first of 120 free Wi-Fi hotspots in BiH, as part of the EUWiFi4WB initiative, as well as a guided tour of Banja Luka by the renowned travel writer and blogger Robert Dacešin together with local envrionmental experts. Ambassador Soreca, accompanied by EU Ambassadors will then travel to Cazin and Bihac to continue marking Europe Day.

Europe Day 2026 is being marked across Bosnia and Herzegovina together with citizens, organisations and institutions, underlying the strong partnership between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina and highlighting the country's potential to progress on its path towards the membership in the EU.

For more information: https://europehouse.ba/en/