At the request of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate for European Integration (DEI), UNOPS organised a study visit to Brussels for representatives of the different government levels of Bosnia and Herzegovina (state, entities, Brčko District and cantons) dealing with EU accession. The study visit took place on 27-28 November 2024 in the framework of the Programme ''Knowledge for Reform in the Western Balkans'' (K4R) funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, complementing the various important activities of the EU and EU member states. 

‘I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for our cooperation thus far [...]. We organised several training events and workshops involving more than 800 civil servants across all levels of government in BiH.’

Elvira Habota, Director of the Directorate for European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Several interactive, in-person meetings were held with representatives of EU institutions in Brussels, with the aim of developing a better understanding of the EU accession process by the participants and creating additional momentum after Bosnia and Herzegovina received a green light for accession negotiations.. During the  study visit, the participants had the opportunity for exchange with the Permanent Representative of Croatia to the EU and the Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the EU to learn first-hand from their respective accession processes and experiences. The BiH delegation also met representatives from four Directorates-General of the European Commission (DG NEAR, DG COMP, DG EMPL, DG ENV) and acquired a better understanding of the different steps in the enlargement process, as well as of the various milestones to be met in the upcoming accession negotiations. 

The study trip to Brussels for representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) marks a significant advancement in the country’s journey toward EU accession, by providing a platform for deepening the understanding of the EU integration process. It highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts across the country’s different levels of government and underscored the need for harmonizing laws, policies, and practices with EU standards and encouraged collaborative approaches to address governance challenges. The event also strengthened international support for BiH’s integration efforts, while equipping civil servants with tools to navigate the complexities of EU integration.

Above all, this was an utmost signal that UNOPS and the K4R programme remain committed and will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on the accession path, as the Norwegian Ambassador in Sarajevo, Kathrine Biering, highlighted in her introductory words: ‘The K4R programme supports in providing a clear framework for achieving the reforms required for the European integration’. 

Finally, the participants were very satisfied with the content of the sessions and rated the overall study trip very highly in terms of usefulness in their work, as they could bring home valuable insights that could be adapted to the BiH unique setting.  

‘I would like to thank UNOPS for the tremendous support you gave to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a pleasure to work with all your staff and thank you for understanding our needs in this process.’ 

Anonymous feedback from one of the participants