During a series of meetings, between June and July 2024, the UNOPS/Norway Knowledge for Reform Action (K4R) Programme engaged with key stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focusing on project updates, partnership building and exploring new areas for technical support. An overview of some of the key moments and results of these missions are presented below.

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC): The K4R Programme had already established ties with the RCC in Brussels and took the opportunity of this meeting in Sarajevo to exchange information on current activities across the Western Balkans.  The RCC Secretariat presented key aspects of the Southeast Europe 2030 Strategy, a blueprint for reaching regionally sustainable economic growth, reducing poverty and inequality, improving social inclusion, empowering women, decelerating depopulation, enhancing the overall quality of life for citizens and accelerating the green and digital transition. Another topic for discussion was the Common Regional Market (CRM), with the 2021-2024 Action Plan being currently implemented. It includes a regional view on the following areas: trade (free movement of goods, services, capital and people), investment (aligning investment policies with EU standards), digital market (integrating the Western Balkans into a pan-European market), as well as industrial growth and innovation (transforming the industrial sectors). The K4R Programme informed about current technical support assignments that relate to above mentioned areas, such as the joint UNOPS/UNIDO work on industrial policy in Albania or the recently started technical support assignment in Kosovo with a view to developing concrete objectives and actionable steps for the upcoming CRM Action Plan (2025-2028). The RCC Secretariat expressed its interest in collaborating with the K4R Programme within this context.

Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism: UNOPS K4R technical assistance for the development of bylaws on air quality and invasive species and future opportunities for additional support in other environmental areas (to be aligned with the EU acquis) were at the center of  discussion with Minister Nasiha Pozder.

Republika Srpska: Mrs. Radmila Dragišić, Deputy Minister for EU Affairs, welcomed the possibility of receiving the K4R Programme technical support. Current needs were discussed and conversation partners explored how and in which areas the Republika Srpska entity could also benefit from the K4R programme.

Ministry of Communication and Transport: Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto and his Chief of Staff Ms. Sanja Škuletić-Malagić discussed potential assistance to be provided by K4R in areas such as public broadcasting regulation, electronic communications law, e-services, eIDAS regulation and railways. 

Directorate for European Integration: In a discussion with Mr. Cvijetić, Head of Section for Trade and Internal Market, Strategy, and Integration Policy Division, the need for comprehensive support in EU integration efforts was emphasized. Mr. Cvijetić proposed regional workshops and underscored the need for strategic engagement with key stakeholders, particularly concerning the reporting on the Growth Plan and Reform Agenda. In close cooperation with key EU and UN partners, the K4R programme is looking forward to further expanding its operations and service provisions to all Western Balkans partners in this field.