In the midst of the pandemic, Brexit is still in the shadows. Britain has left the EU’s single market and customs union, which allow for the freer movement of people, goods, and services between member states.
Many BiH citizens had the opportunity watch the online program of the BH UK Network where he was a guest with H.E. Vanja Filipović , Ambassador of BiH to the United Kingdom. The program was attended by BiH citizens living on the Island, as well as Mr. Kemo Sarač, Assistant Minister at the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, and Naida Ribić, on behalf of Radio BiH Diaspora.
H.E. Filipović said; “ Brexit does not mean a decrease in Great Britain’s interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and our two countries continue to have exceptionally strong, friendly diplomatic relations without any outstanding issues. Great Britain strongly supports the integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its Euro-Atlantic path, internal reforms – primarily in terms of better functioning of institutions and adoption of strategic documents for the development of individual sectors.”
“It is difficult to predict the effect of Brexit on studying for BiH citizens in the UK. The situation is already difficult due to the pandemic. We know that the UK will no longer participate in the Erasmus student exchange programme. The new £100 million Turing Scheme for students to study and work abroad will replace the UK’s participation in the Erasmus programme. The programme will provide students with similar opportunities to study and work abroad as the Erasmus programme, but will include countries around the world.”
When asked about the visa regime, Kemo Sarač added : “It is unrealistic to expect that visas will be completely abolished, but there are a number of steps that the Immigration Sector will take to make visa fees lower and more transparent, to make visas faster and easier to obtain, and to simplify the procedure.”
Participants of the online forum asked questions to H.E. Filipović and Mr. Sarač on the topic of BREXIT and its impact on Bosnia and Herzegovina and BiH citizens in the UK. BiH citizens asked many questions: the issue of political relations between BiH and the UK after Brexit; visa regime; the issue of tourism; youth from BiH and their right to study in the UK; perception of Brexit in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU; health insurance for BiH citizens traveling from the UK; linking the work regime, the issue of regular air routes between BiH and the UK, etc. You can find out the answers to these and many other questions via the video link:
BH UK Network
