European Commission (EC)
Policy approach in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The
overall objective of all European Commission (EC) assistance is to support Bosnia and Herzegovina
(BiH) in the framework of the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP). The
EC’s goal is to bring BiH closer to EU standards and principles. This is
accomplished through the following activities: helping consolidate the peace
process and fostering inter-entity cooperation; assisting ethnic reconciliation
and the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes of origin;
establishing functioning institutions and a viable democracy, based on the rule
of law and respect for human rights; and laying the foundations for sustainable
economic development and growth.
As
of 2007, the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) replaced the former
pre-accession instruments: PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD, and CARDS. The overarching goal
when designing the IPA was to simplify all pre-accession assistance into a
single framework for both candidate and potential candidate countries, thus
facilitating the transfer from one status to another. The assistance under the
IPA will concentrate on institution building, in particular, strengthening the
effective implementation of the rule of law, enhancing administrative and
judicial capacity, and encouraging some alignment with the acquis communautaire.
The IPA regulation also foresees investments to promote economic and social
development. BiH, as a potential candidate country, will be able to use
institution building to strengthen capacities and structures, necessary for the
management of pre-structural funds.
Allocation and activities in 2007
The
EC allocated € 44.6 million to BiH
in the last year. The biggest part (€ 12 million) was spent for supporting the
Economic Development and Social Protection, and Conflict Prevention and
Resolution, Peace and Security (€ 9.7 million) sectors. In the Good Governance
and Institution Building sector, the EC is the main
grant donor (€ 6.8 million), taking into account that the biggest donation to
the sector was a loan by the World Bank. Traditionally, the EC has been
involved in all other sectors as well – Infrastructure, Education, Environment,
Cross-cutting sectors, Agriculture and Forestry, and Local Governance.
Contact
information
The European Commission
Address:
Skenderija 3a, 71000 Sarajevo,
BiH
Phone: +387 33.254.700
Fax: +387 33.666.037
Email: delegation-bih@ec.europa.eu
Web address: www.delbih.ec.europa.eu
