The 8th meeting of the Special Group on Public Administration Reform (PAR) for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) took place on 12th of March 2025. The meeting was opened by Mr, Davor Bunoza, Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ms Valentina Superti, Director of Western Balkans, Directorate General on Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST). It was co-chaired by Ms Heinke Veit, Deputy Head of Unit of Montenegro and BiH (DG ENEST).
The European Commission encouraged Bosnia and Herzegovina to build upon the historical decision to open EU accession negotiations to undertake key reforms for a functional and accountable administration, that would allow the country to speak with one voice with a view to advance further on the country’s EU path.
The Commission encouraged to provide continuous political support to the PAR Agenda, by ensuring a fully functioning Coordination Board on PAR – as the main political decision making body –including Chairwoman of BiH Council of Ministers, Prime ministers at entities level and competent Ministers and PAR coordinators- and that such body should steer effectively the reforms.
With regard to the overall policy on PAR, the Commission reiterated the need to improve implementation of reforms for the benefit of the citizens, by expediting the adoption of the new Action Plan on PAR 2023-2027, consulting civil society and ensuring its financial sustainability and ensuring increased budgetary ownership of the reform.
As to public finances, the Commission welcomed the holding of the second PFM dialogue on 11th of March with participation of EU, donors and various EU member state representatives. Particularly, the Commission called on all government levels to coordinate more effectively for a credible countrywide approach on PFM, as a key element of public policy effective use of public funds and a business environment conducive to investments, competitiveness and growth, by highlighting the need on continuous reforms on public investments, budget and policy planning, fiscal risks and internal control.
As for civil service reform, the Commission stressed the need to address professionalisation of the administration as a matter of priority and improve the working environment in civil service for better attraction and retention of qualified candidates, as key element for improving administrative capacities, also ahead of the EU negotiation process and implementation of EU Acquis.
With regard to a country wide approach to policy making, the Commission asked for BiH state level to undertake all necessary key steps to set-up a functional countrywide system of planning, monitoring sectoral policies – as the basis for EU acquis. The Commission also asked for the finalisation of the National Plan on Acquis Approximation in line with EU comments sent in May 2024 and looked forward to its improvement and final adoption following EU comments with a view to complying with requirements under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
The Commission emphasised the need to reform overall accountability of the public administration bodies by improving the uptake of Ombudsman recommendations by public bodies, enhancing pro-active disclosure of information, and ensuring a harmonised approach in applying the standards on Free Access to Information towards civil society and better alignment of regulations with international standards. Finally, with regard to service delivery, the Commission looked forward to all necessary enabling conditions being put in place for digitalising services, and improving the provision of services to citizens, was stated by the EU Delegation in BiH.
