B&H

State leadership must deal with the problem of exodus of young people from the country

The result of the extraordinary session of the Presidency of B&H should be a strategic document with measures and tasks, Subašić believes

An increasing number of young people are choosing to leave the country in search for a better life. Archive

Piše: A. Bajramović

The problem of exodus of young people from B&H requires the convening of an emergency, extraordinary session of the Presidency of the state, according to the long-standing B&H. diplomat, former ambassador of our country to India Sabit Subašić.

Young people are leaving Tomislavgrad, Zenica, Prijedor and Banja Luka in the same way and for the same reasons. One of the biggest problems in B&H is a rare example of consensus among members of the Presidency, so Subašić considers the thematic session a normal move.


Urgent reaction

- Each of them persistently points out in individual appearances the great problem of young people leaving and loss of educated people. All three are alarming, justifiably, but isn't it normal then to have an urgent reaction !? Isn't it normal for the Presidency of B&H, in a concrete way, in accordance with its competencies, to face this problem - Subašić wonders.

Subašić: Justified financing. Archive

He points out that, in the preparation of the session, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and other institutions should be asked for appropriate analyzes and proposals, and consultations with other countries should be held.

- The result of the extended, extraordinary session should be a strategic document with measures and tasks. I think that even any possible borrowing with the aim of stopping the departure of young people has a much greater justification than any other - explains Subašić.


Higher costs

Adnan Fehratbegović, Master of Electrical Engineering, has been warning about one of the key problems of the state, which always remains in the shadow of daily political events. He is the father of four children. His son Abdullah, a three-time FB&H champion in mathematics, although still in elementary school, is considering leaving the country.

Fehratbegović: Numerous consequences. Archive

- For raising and education, on average, at least 100,000 KM is needed. These are the costs of schooling, food, clothing, transportation. With the number of children, the need for the size of housing is growing, the overhead costs of the family are higher… Having in mind this, as well as EUROSTAT data on more than 200,000 issued first residence permits for B&H citizens in the last seven years, we can say that B&H has spent more of 20 billion KM in education and raising the generation that left the country in that period - says Fehratbegović.

He reminds that lower tax collection, lower market demand and the loss of huge potential in the future are the consequences of such a demographic catastrophe.


Numerous discounts

Fehratbegović explains that the state has a number of possibilities that are applied in EU countries that also face the problem of birth rates.

- Through natality policies, states make it easier for future parents through child allowances. Germany, for example, allocates 250-300 euros for one child. There are also progressive rates of personal income taxation through which, with a larger number of children, there are lower contributions to the salary, and children's sports are co-financed ... - Fehratbegović points out.