At an extraordinary telephone session held today, and acting upon a proposal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina reviewed a diplomatic note from the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia. The Council granted consent for the organization of voting for citizens of the Republic of Serbia residing in Bosnia and Herzegovina in connection with the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25, 2026, it was announced following the session.
Citizens of the Republic of Serbia residing in Bosnia and Herzegovina may cast their votes on October 25, 2026, between 07:00 and 20:00, at polling stations established at 27 locations across BiH. These include: the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Sarajevo; the General Consulates in Banja Luka and Mostar; the consular offices in Trebinje and Drvar; and the MTEL business building and the MTEL Telecommunications Center in Banja Luka.
Additionally, polling stations will be open at the following locations: the “Vuk Karadžić” Elementary School in Bijeljina; the Bratunac Secondary School Center; the “Serbian House” (Srpska kuća) in the Brčko District of BiH; the “Vuk Karadžić” Elementary School (Branjevo Local Community branch) in Zvornik; the “Ivo Andrić” Secondary School Center in Višegrad; the “Vuk Karadžić” Elementary School in Vlasenica; the Gradiška Cultural Center; and the Center for Culture and Education in Doboj.
Citizens of Serbia residing in Bosnia and
Herzegovina may also vote at polling stations set up in seven other elementary schools, specifically the “Sveti Sava” (Saint Sava) Elementary Schools located in Zvornik, Lopare, and Foča. “Vuk Karadžić” in Novo Goražde, “Srbija” in Pale, “Desanka Maksimović” in Prijedor, and “Sokolac” in Sokolac; as well as the Public Enterprise SKC in Modriča; the Secondary School Center in Mrkonjić Grad; the Public Institution Secondary School Center “27. januar” in Rogatica; the Public Institution Secondary School Center in Rudo; and the “Filip Višnjić” Cultural Center in Ugljevik.
Reconstruction of the Diplomatic-Consular Mission Facility of BiH in Madrid
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, acting on a proposal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously adopted a Decision approving a multi-year capital investment project for the reconstruction and equipping of a facility for the Diplomatic-Consular Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (DKP BiH) in Madrid, with an estimated total value of 3,600,000 KM.
The funds are intended for the reconstruction and equipping of a facility for the Diplomatic-Consular Mission of BiH in Madrid, covering an area of 1,200 square meters (comprising a basement, ground floor, and three upper floors). This property was allocated to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the succession process regarding the assets of the former SFRY, and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been its owner since 2014. Given that the building has not undergone renovation in recent years, water ingress through a damaged flat roof has caused damage across all floors. By securing funds for the reconstruction, the Council of Ministers of BiH has reaffirmed its intention to keep the facility in use—a move that follows an official warning from the Spanish authorities to the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging that the building be repaired as soon as possible, it was announced following the session.
The project will be financed through a special-purpose program of the BiH Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled “Purchase of Facilities for the Needs of BiH Diplomatic and Consular Missions,” and will be implemented between 2026 and 2028.
The successful completion of this project provides the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with its own premises to house the Embassy of BiH and the Ambassador’s residence in Madrid. Furthermore, it creates the conditions to resume discussions with representatives of countries that have previously expressed interest in renting a portion of the facility to accommodate their own diplomatic and consular staff.
Bosnia and Herzegovina to Purchase a Property in Rome to House Two Diplomatic-Consular Missions
Upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BiH—in a second round of voting—adopted a decision to purchase a property to house the diplomatic-consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Rome and the Vatican. Located at Via Lucilio 16, Rome, the property has a total area of 900 square meters and is priced at 2,500,000 euros.
During the session, the Council also adopted a report detailing the procedures carried out and tasks completed by the Commission tasked with purchasing a property to house the two diplomatic-consular missions in Rome and the Vatican, which recommended the most favorable bid: the property at Via Lucilio 16.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH is required to obtain an opinion from the State Attorney’s Office of BiH regarding the draft purchase agreement, while the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Republic of Italy is authorized to sign the final purchase contract.
Previously, in a second round of voting and upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a decision was adopted to amend the existing decision regarding a multi-year capital project—specifically, the purchase, renovation, and equipping of a property to house the diplomatic-consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Rome and the Vatican. The decision increases the total amount approved for the implementation of this multi-year project from the previous 5,000,000 KM to 5,600,000 KM.
The funds originally allocated proved insufficient for the purchase of a single facility to house two of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s diplomatic-consular missions. This was due to rising prices in the real estate market, costs associated with renovation and equipping, as well as an increase in agency, legal, and notary fees.
Determination of the Base Amount for Salary Calculations in BiH Diplomatic-Consular Missions for 2026
Upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BiH adopted a decision establishing the base amount for salary calculations within the diplomatic-consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the year 2026.
The proposed base amount for salary calculations in these missions was developed using data from the United Nations International Civil Service Commission and incorporates, among other factors, published UN cost-of-living and housing indices for February 2026.
The decision applies to staff in 53 existing diplomatic-consular missions as well as 10 missions currently in the process of being established. The base amount for New York—set at 1,850 KM, up from the previous 1,780 KM—was used as the starting point for the calculations. This starting base was increased by the same margin applied to the salary calculation base for institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2026 compared to the previous year. The decision shall take effect on January 1 of the current year, in accordance with Article 7 of the Law on Salaries and Allowances in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the 2026 budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, the amount of 22,736,000 KM has been allocated for the gross salaries of employees within the BiH diplomatic and consular network.
Furthermore, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approval has been granted for the appointment of Thierry Bernard Ghislain Jeanty as the Defence Attaché of the Swiss Confederation to Bosnia and Herzegovina, based in Belgrade.
