Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) today organized the “First Consultation Forum on the Implementation of the Reform Agenda in BiH” (CONFRA BiH) in Sarajevo, with the aim of opening a dialogue between institutions and civil society on the implementation of the Reform Agenda and the Western Balkans Growth Plan in BiH.
This dialogue is particularly important because Bosnia and Herzegovina, if it does not implement the reforms it has accepted through the Reform Agenda by the end of the year, risks permanently losing 373 million euros earmarked for reforms and investments.
The Reform Agenda, as stated by the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative to BiH, Luigi Soreca, is not only important because of the almost one billion euros of funds, but above all as a framework for the long-term economic transformation of BiH.
He emphasized that Bosnia and Herzegovina has significant advantages – a qualified population, an industrial tradition and a favorable geographical location, which are currently underutilized.
Soreca singled out the need for reform of the education system, unmodernized industry, as well as the underutilized potential of clean energy as key challenges.
“The reforms envisaged by the agenda aim to remove these obstacles and enable the benefits of European integration even before formal EU membership,” added Soreca on the eve of the Forum organized at Europe House.
He emphasized that the focus of the reforms is on areas close to citizens, such as digitalization, clean energy, private sector development, strengthening human capital and the rule of law.
According to him, financial resources are tied to the implementation of reforms, and the lack of action has already led to the loss of 108 million euros and threatens the loss of an additional 373 million euros.
“My task here is to once again call on the domestic authorities to make progress in the implementation of the Reform Agenda, primarily through the ratification of the loan agreement and the financial instrument agreement. These agreements represent the legal basis for any potential payments, i.e. they open the possibility of the disbursement of funds in the amount of 68 million euros as part of pre-financing,” emphasized Soreca.
The forum brought together representatives of BiH institutions, the European Union, civil society organizations, social partners and the academic community to, as TI BiH Executive Director Ivana Korajlić said, discuss and establish certain mechanisms for consultation and monitoring the implementation of the Reform Agenda.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has not signed key agreements or established the necessary institutional structures, which is why it has not really started implementing reforms. Due to delays in implementing key steps, more than 100 million euros have already been lost, and by the end of the year an additional 370 million euros are at risk of being lost,” stated Korajlić.
The problem, she added, is not only in the money, but in the message that political leaders are sending – that there is no real commitment or consensus on European integration.
“Excuses about the impossibility of an agreement no longer apply, because it has been shown that decisions can be made quickly when there is a certain interest, which has been shown in recent days regarding the issue of the Southern Gas Interconnection,” stated Korajlić.
CONFRA BiH will serve as a platform through which civil society and other relevant stakeholders can organize, prepare for the establishment of an institutional framework for implementation and contribute to this process as a constructive partner, but also as a corrective factor in monitoring the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken.
