The presentation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2026-2029 marks a new step in partnership and support for reforms on the country’s European path, said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, emphasizing the need for their concrete implementation, while the Minister of Justice of BiH, Davor Bunoza, warned that key reform laws are still awaiting adoption in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.
Berset, who is participating in the presentation of the Action Plan in Sarajevo today, emphasized that its launch represents an important new step in the partnership between BiH and the Council of Europe, recalling that our country became a member of this international organization 24 years ago.
He emphasized that the Council of Europe remains committed to supporting our country on its reform and European path.
“This path is not easy and requires commitment from all those involved,” he underlined, adding that he welcomes the progress achieved in BiH in various areas.
He also welcomed the recent signing of several Council of Europe conventions, including the Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Trafficking in Organs and the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyers.
However, he said that while the signing was an important step, what must now follow was the ratification and effective implementation of these documents.
“At the same time, we are clear that challenges lie ahead. Further reforms, including the constitutional framework and elections, remain essential for all citizens to fully exercise their rights. This is particularly important in light of the Sejdić and Finci judgment, ahead of the general elections in October,” Berset stressed.
He noted that the Council of Europe is launching an Action Plan that will enable a focus on current issues, stressing that this is a concrete expression of commitment to the democratic security of BiH and its European future.
He added that support will be provided for reforms in key areas, including human rights and the judiciary, but also democratic governance, equality, as well as addressing new challenges such as artificial intelligence and environmental protection.
“This is an important continuation of cooperation between the Council of Europe and BiH,” concluded the Secretary General.
BiH Minister of Justice Davor Bunoza also addressed the media, saying that the focus of the Action Plan largely relates to the work, results, successes, but also failures of the proposals of this ministry.
He also stated that a large part also relates to electoral reforms and the implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in the Sejdić-Finci case group, while the second part relates to the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
“What is very interesting to me in this Action Plan is the fact that a comparison has been made that in 2023 a total of 328 applications were filed against BiH before the European Court of Human Rights and that 326 were declared inadmissible, with one application in 2025 being modified,” Bunoza said.
This, he explained, shows that only one application was founded, which indicates the good work, first of all, of the Constitutional Court of BiH.
“Also, in the area of the rule of law and the fight against corruption, where many expect to see much better results, the Action Plan itself lists certain successes that we have achieved, but also shortcomings,” he added.
He emphasized that it once again points out the need to adopt the entire Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and the Law on the Court, that is, the two remaining laws for the continuation of BiH’s European path.
“These two laws are actually trapped in the House of Peoples,” Bunoza pointed out.
Therefore, he once again called on all MPs to prioritize non-controversial items at the next session of the House of Peoples, if they are in favor of BiH’s European integration, emphasizing that it is not appropriate, as in previous months, to put on the agenda issues for which it is known in advance that there will be no quorum.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, which brings together 46 member states, is paying an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 27th and 28th, Fena news agency writes.
