President presented with European Leader Award in Bosnia

Slovak President Andrej Kiska has been presented with the 'Seal of a European Leader' award for Slovakia's support for Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path to the European Union, TASR learnt from the President's Office's press department on Tuesday. Kiska received the award in person at the 15th annual 'Vecernjak's Seal' awards ceremony in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday. Addressing the audience, Kiska confirmed that Slovakia will continue to support the integration ambitions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "It's important to have friends and supporters who stand behind you, who help you to overcome problems and falls, who'll encourage you not to give up. You aren't alone, and you won't be as long as you appreciate support", he said. During his visit to the country, Kiska also met members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar- Kitarović and Montenegrin President Filip Vujanović. Bosnia submitted the country's formal application for EU membership on February 15 of this year. According to Brussels, it must adopt plenty of reforms if it wants the EU at least to consider its application. Sarajevo had hoped to submit an official application for EU membership several times in the past, but the EU 28 always said that the country needed to improve its economy, legal system, respect for the law, public administration and political institutions in order to become an EU candidate country.