The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, met today in Sarajevo with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset.
The meeting confirmed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strong commitment to the fundamental values of the Council of Europe, including the protection of human rights, strengthening democracy and the rule of law. It was emphasized that BiH’s active participation in the mechanisms of the Council of Europe represents an important segment of its path towards European integration and the continuation of reform processes.
Konaković pointed out the importance of Secretary General Berset’s visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which sends a strong political signal of support for our country’s reform agenda.
He expressed gratitude for the Council of Europe’s continued support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing the readiness of the institutions to continue implementing reforms in line with European standards.
He informed his interlocutor about the current political situation in BiH, pointing to the complexity of the constitutional order that allows for blockages by certain political actors, which slows down and complicates BiH’s European path.
During the meeting, the implementation of BiH’s obligations in accordance with Resolution 2638 (2026) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which reaffirms support for the sovereignty, constitutional order and territorial integrity of BiH, was also discussed. The need to advance constitutional and electoral reforms in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights was emphasized, including the implementation of the judgments in the Sejdić-Finci and Kovačević cases. The importance of achieving a political consensus on reforms that will ensure inclusive representation and more efficient functioning of state institutions was also emphasized.
The interlocutors also addressed the need to ensure the full functioning of the Constitutional Court of BiH. It was emphasized that continued cooperation with the bodies of the Council of Europe, in particular the Venice Commission, remains of key importance. It was also discussed that Bosnia and Herzegovina has completed the procedures for the nomination of candidates for judges of the European Court of Human Rights, and that the list has been submitted to the Council of Europe.
The importance of programmatic cooperation through the Horizontal Facility, which represents a key mechanism for supporting reforms in the areas of justice, the fight against corruption, the protection of human rights, inclusion and education, was also discussed. It was concluded that the Council of Europe Action Plan for BiH for the period 2026–2029 will further improve this framework of cooperation, the Public Relations Office of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
