Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

EU integration process

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina became a potential candidate country for EU accession after the Thessaloniki European Council in 2003. In June 2008, Bosnia and Herzegovina was the last of the Western Balkan countries to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which has not been ratified yet.

 

Transnational and cross-border programmes with Member States

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is taking part in the IPA Adriatic cross-border programme together with Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Under the European Territorial Co-operation objective of the Structural Funds 2007-2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina participates in the ERDF transnational programme South-East Europe (SEE) and Mediterranean (MED) programme. Both programmes aim to support the participation of partners from candidate or potential candidate countries in joint trans-national co–operation activities together with partners from EU Member States.

 

Cross-border programmes with Western Balkan neighbours

 

Concerning CBC programmes with neighbouring WB potential candidate countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina is taking part in three programmes – with Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The first Call for Proposals under the programme with Serbia was launched on July 8^th, 2009 and closed on October 6^th, 2009.

The first Call for Proposals under the programme with Montenegro was launched on July 9^th, 2009 and closed on October 9^th, 2009.

The first Call for Proposals under the programme with Croatia was launched on July 17^th, 2009 and closed on October 16^th, 2009.

 

National IPA CBC Coordinator

 

Directorate for European Integration (DEI) of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the National IPA Component II Coordinator. DEI has been established in order to achieve the goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join European Union, as well as in order to coordinate the work of Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions under the Stabilisation and Association Process.

 

CBIB support

 

CBIB established a regional office in Sarajevo in 2006, since the beginning of the project. Through a senior Key Expert and a Local Long-Term Junior Expert during Phase I and now through a Senior Short-Term Key Expert, CBIB has been providing constant support and direct, hands-on assistance to the Operating Structure, Directorate for European Integration, as well as to the JTS in Sarajevo, for the programme Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro since its set up.

CBIB directly supported the preparation of three cross-border programmes with WB neighbours, the establishment of Joint Management Structures for these programmes - Joint Monitoring Committees and Joint Technical Secretariats with Antennae, preparations for the 1st Call for Proposals, launching and implementation of the CfP.

In accordance with the country-specific Work Plan, support is provided through capacity building activities such as on-the-job training and training sessions on the topic of IPA CBC programme management and implementation, project proposal evaluation programme monitoring and audit, as well as in every-day work.

Through awareness seminars and trainings in project proposal preparation, CBIB is providing capacity building to Potential Applicants in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well, raising their awareness on funding opportunities under IPA and enhancing their project preparation and implementation knowledge.