EUVP visit story - Mirza Rastoder

                                                              A Diplomatic Mission from Another Perspective

My name is Mirza Rastoder, from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country where the international arena unfolds daily, and where young people strongly aspire to EU membership. Seven years ago, I founded Homework HUB, the first university hub in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dedicated to empowering youth through education, exchange, and preparation for the labour market. Through this work, I have actively contributed to youth strategies and initiatives aligned with European values.

Being selected for the European Union Visitors Programme (EUVP) was both an honour and a responsibility; a diplomatic mission to better understand how Bosnia and Herzegovina can move closer to the European Union. The experience fully met my expectations, strengthening my knowledge of EU institutions, policies, and the crucial role of youth in shaping its future.

Throughout a week in Brussels, I engaged with representatives of the European Parliament, European Commission, and key EU bodies. I discussed pressing challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina particularly the absence of a National Youth Strategy, fragmented education systems, and the lack of unified youth representation. These gaps not only limit opportunities for young people but also slow down the country’s EU path.

At the same time, I witnessed the EU’s strong commitment to youth through programmes like Erasmus+, DiscoverEU, and the Youth Guarantee, as well as direct inclusion of young voices in policymaking. I emphasised the importance of greater involvement of youth from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans, especially in areas of peacebuilding, education reform, and democratic participation.

This experience reaffirmed a clear message: every reform and every step toward the EU is, at its core, a youth issue.

While I have officially completed the Programme, the real work begins now. I remain committed to contributing through my own perspective and actions to bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the European Union. That path ultimately leads to sustainable peace, and it must be carried by young people.

I am deeply grateful to the EUVP team and the European Union’s Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina for their support. I hope that all EUVP alumni will continue to act as bridges between their countries and the EU because this journey is far from over.