Press releases

Possible Suspension of Timber Exports to the EU: Forests of Una-Sana Canton Victims of Devastation and Poor Laws

Press releases ● 24 February 2026

Bihać, 24. February 2026. year – While logging plans in Una-Sana Canton are fulfilled at 98%, forest restoration is realized at only 41%, which in the long term leads to the destruction of this resource, Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH) warned today. At the conference on forest law reform, it was emphasized that public enterprises, of which 88% of directors are politically connected, prioritize short-term exploitation over biological sustainability, while the canton, due to outdated fee calculations, loses millions.

Such practices not only devastate forests but also place Bosnia and Herzegovina in real danger of losing the European Union market. Unless digital traceability systems are urgently established and legislation is harmonized with the new EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), domestic timber products will not be able to cross the border—this was the key message from the conference “Cantonal Forest Laws: Between Reform and EUDR Requirements”, organized today in Bihać by TI BiH.

At the conference, which brought together representatives of the Government and Assembly of Una-Sana Canton (USK), the management of Forest Enterprise “Unsko-sanske šume,” and experts, the concerning effects of the new EU regulation coming into force were presented, expected by the end of 2026, which requires that every timber product possess precise geolocation coordinates (WGS84) of the plot from which the wood originates, as well as proof that there has been no forest degradation at that location since 2020. . This requirement cannot be met from a legal, technical, and operational standpoint, which calls into question timber exports from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU, thereby jeopardizing the entire forestry sector.

“Domestic exporters face operational risk because, without a unified information system, they cannot provide valid data on origin to their EU partners. If BiH is classified as a ‘high-risk’ country due to corruption and lack of data, our trucks will undergo rigorous inspections, which threatens the closure of jobs in the timber industry,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Dženan Bećirović from the Faculty of Forestry in Sarajevo, who warned that the current fragmentation of the sector, where the Federation of BiH has no forest law and the cantons have inconsistent regulations and disconnected information systems, prevents the fulfillment of these conditions.

Special focus was placed on the situation in Una-Sana Canton, and TI BiH’s analysis showed that public enterprises in this sector often prioritize short-term revenues over long-term sustainability. Data for 2023 show that Forest Enterprise “Unsko-sanske šume” achieved the logging plan at 98%, while the reforestation plan was realized at only 41%.

Additionally, the problematic calculation of forest use fees was highlighted. USK charges a fee of 9% on the base price of timber “on the stump,” while Republika Srpska charges 10% on a higher base (truck road). Due to such differences in calculation and the absence of a federal law, the entire Federation of BiH collects three times less revenue from forest fees compared to RS, although the volume of logging is nearly identical (approximately 15.8 million BAM in the Federation of BiH versus 48.4 million BAM in RS in 2023).

TI BiH reiterated the finding that 88% of directors of forest enterprises in BiH are politically connected, which makes this sector prey to party interests instead of a resource for economic development.

Mustafa Ružnić, Prime Minister of USK, emphasized that the data on political influence in the forestry sector are unambiguous and represent a clear call for serious action: “It is high time we turn to expertise and place forest management in the service of its sustainability rather than exploitation. Therefore, we should view EUDR as an opportunity, not a threat,” he added.

During the panel discussion, it was emphasized that the new Forest Law of USK must also resolve the issue of jurisdiction in the area of forest protection as well as the manner of spending budgetary funds for these purposes, which is currently an open question since the complete transfer of authority to the Cantonal Forestry Administration has not been carried out.

Edvin Alijanović, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry of USK, concluded that “our political responsibility is decision-making, but it is equally a professional responsibility to adopt the best solutions that will ensure transparent, accountable, and long-term forest management.”

Recommendations were issued from the conference for the urgent adoption of harmonized regulations, particularly the new Forest Law of USK, which will enable digitalization and timber traceability, depoliticization of management structures in public enterprises, and clear jurisdiction regarding forest protection and control of earmarked spending for forest restoration, in order to prevent further devastation of this resource and ensure the survival of exports.

Press rls_24_02_2026

Women’s Representation Below Legal Threshold, Youth Invisible: Public Financing of Political Parties Does Not Deliver Equality

Press releases ● 17 February 2026

Sarajevo, 17 February 2026. 2025 – Political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina have had tens of millions of marks in public funds at their disposal for years, yet this money does not contribute to increasing the participation of women and youth in politics, nor is it used transparently and for its intended purpose, according to an analysis by Transparency International in BiH presented today in Sarajevo. Although political parties decide who enters politics and who shapes public policies, the current financing system does not ensure that public funds lead to greater equality, democratization, and inclusion of underrepresented groups.

The study shows that women’s participation in most institutions remains below 30%, even though the law stipulates that their representation must not fall below 40%. Even more concerning is the fact that there are no systematic data on youth participation whatsoever, nor any standards that would guarantee their representation. At the same time, over 70% of political party revenues come from the budget, confirming that public funds represent a key mechanism for the potential transformation of party politics, but this potential has not been utilized.

Although public financing exists at all levels of government, there are no clear conditions on how these funds are spent. Additional financing exists for the underrepresented gender, but it has no effect because parties are not required to use these funds for activities that would improve the position of women. Incentive systems do not influence party behavior, and youth are not covered by financial criteria at all. Women’s and youth party organizations exist, but without their own budgets and without real power, while all key decisions remain in the hands of party leadership, leaving other categories without real influence on both the composition of candidate lists and decision-making processes.

An additional problem is the complete lack of transparency—there are no data on how funds are used, no standardized reporting, and oversight mechanisms are extremely weak. Without oversight there is no accountability, which leaves wide room for abuse and prevents the public from knowing whether parties are using funds in accordance with the public interest.

Comparative examples show that other countries use public financing as a tool for change—increasing funds for parties with more women, reducing financing for those that do not respect equality, or introducing mandatory allocation of funds for women and youth. Solutions are therefore known and proven.

Speaking about the study’s findings, the author of the analysis and TI BiH associate Adnan Kadribašić emphasized the significance of the results:

“This study is the first in Bosnia and Herzegovina to clearly show how public money is used in political parties and what this means for gender equality and youth participation. We have shown that more than 70% of financing comes from the budget, but without clear rules and oversight, this money does not lead to greater representation or real change. This is a matter of public interest, because citizens finance political parties. If we are already allocating public funds, we must know what we are getting in return.”

Event participants emphasized that public financing has the potential to be a driver of transformation in political relations, but only if it is linked to results, transparency is introduced, oversight mechanisms are strengthened, and mandatory funds are secured for the work of women’s and youth organizations within parties. Without this, political party financing remains financing of the status quo, not a tool for democratization.

Transparency International in BiH has called on competent institutions to urgently harmonize the legislative framework, introduce clear rules, and establish control mechanisms that will ensure that funds coming from public budgets truly contribute to a more equal and inclusive political system, rather than reproducing existing inequalities.

TI BiH will continue to advocate for reform processes that enable political parties, as key bearers of the democratic order, to become more accountable, transparent, and open to all citizens.

Press rls_17_02_2026

TI-BIH – Analysis of the Impact of Public Financing of Political Parties on the Participation of Women and Youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina

BiH among the four worst-positioned countries in Europe regarding corruption status

News ● 10 February 2026

Sarajevo, 10. February 2026. year – According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the four worst-positioned countries in Europe with a score of 34 out of a possible 100 and ranks 109th globally, sharing this position with Algeria, Nepal, and Indonesia. A minor change of one point higher compared to last year does not alter the picture of multi-year stagnation, as BiH remains at the bottom of Europe where only Russia, Belarus, and Serbia have worse results, with Serbia experiencing a significant decline in recent years due to the consequences of corruption on human lives and the suppression of civil liberties.

The focus of this year’s CPI research was precisely on the consequences that the erosion of democracy has on the state of corruption in a country, as countries with established democratic institutions, free media, and other mechanisms for overseeing government work more effectively combat corruption. In this regard, nothing has changed in BiH compared to previous years, as we are positioned between countries assessed as failed democracies and states bearing the label of dictatorial regimes according to the corruption status measured by CPI. This was particularly influenced by a series of laws in Republika Srpska that during the past year aimed at suppressing freedom of speech and association as well as undermining the legal order.

The global report published alongside the CPI results also focused on transparency in electoral campaign financing, which is of vital importance for protecting the electoral process from corruption. In our context, it is important to note that TI BiH research shows complete darkness prevails in this area, where parties in their latest reports concealed at least 2.6 million KM in campaign costs. In a country where the illusion of democracy prevails, authorities experiencing a legitimacy crisis increasingly seek to control the electoral process, which has been proven through the discovery of massive electoral fraud.

The regional report by Transparency International states that BiH’s progress in combating corruption is hindered by unsuccessful efforts to eliminate political influence on judicial appointments and to effectively regulate the independence and accountability of judges and prosecutors. TI BiH has already pointed to the farce currently accompanying the process of adopting the law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, where key decision-makers seek to retain mechanisms that enable political control over the judiciary.

Such BiH judiciary in a country at the bottom regarding corruption status continues to have devastating results in prosecuting corruption-related criminal offenses. In such a situation, numerous corruption scandals that marked the past year, such as the Viaduct or Pretis affairs, have not received judicial resolution.

Another critical area that remains problematic is preventing conflicts of interest among public officials, where under the new law at the state level, no sanctions have been imposed, in Republika Srpska conflict of interest has been practically legalized through arbitrary interpretations, and at the FBiH level the law has not been applied for more than 13 years. Therefore, TI BiH recently initiated, with the support of 13 parliamentarians, the adoption of a new conflict of interest law in FBiH, and the parliamentary vote could clearly show which political actors are obstructing key reforms, which is why BiH has been at the bottom of Europe for years.

With this level of corruption, BiH cannot make any steps in European integration, and the government has promised to fulfill most reforms necessary for combating corruption through the reform agenda. However, we continue to see obvious obstructions of reform processes, especially from key actors in power who are experiencing a legitimacy crisis and seek to retain levers of power by resisting democratic processes, through reshaping citizens’ electoral will and placing under political control what remains of independent institutions in this country.

Therefore, TI BiH appeals to all political actors, as well as to the EU and the international community, to provide support for the fight against corruption, as otherwise only further steps toward institutional collapse and suppression of human rights and civil liberties can be expected.

Press rls_10_02_2026

More

• Corruption Perceptions Index 2025
• Global Report (EN)
• Regional Report (BHS)
• CPI2025_Presentation (169)

TI BiH: Systemic corruption prevents development of renewable energy sector

Press releases ● 05 February 2026

Sarajevo, February 5, 2026. year – “Systemic corruption and non-transparent occupation of grid capacities by privileged investors have directly pushed numerous citizens out of the energy transition and prevented investments in electricity production from renewable energy sources” is the key message from the conference dedicated to corruption prevention in this field, organized today in Sarajevo by Transparency International in BiH.

The analysis presented by TI BiH showed that in recent years, numerous privileged investors have occupied available dynamic quotas, negotiated high purchase prices, and received incentives from funds collected from citizens through electricity bills. The extent to which the struggle for quotas has paid off is demonstrated by the fact that privileged investors who entered the system earlier receive almost six times higher incentives for the same amount of electricity produced than other producers. In the Federation of BiH, only one producer receives about 20% of the total incentives paid annually, and large investors in this field have largely reserved capacities and pushed out small producers.

Corruption risks in this field have now shifted to the grid connection process, where non-transparent capacity reservation for fictitious projects and lack of state planning create new “bottlenecks” that block fair competition and market access. The problem of fictitious projects that “reserve” grid capacities for years by those with privileged information is particularly emphasized, which directly blocks serious investments and threatens the stability of the entire system.

Furthermore, the new entity laws regulating electricity production from renewable sources have not fully resolved the problem of artificial project fragmentation, where large solar parks are divided on paper into numerous small power plants to avoid concluding concession agreements and entering a more favorable incentive system.

To stop this degradation of the sector, conference participants emphasized that the solution lies in urgently introducing aggregation rules into entity laws on renewable energy sources, whereby all connected projects would be treated as one unified facility. This would force investors to assume concession obligations and pay a realistic price for resource use.

Finally, complete digitalization of the process and publication of transparent waiting lists and grid capacities are possible ways to prevent corruption in this field that can protect public interest, bring direct benefits to a greater number of citizens, and enable BiH to achieve strategic goals of increasing electricity production from renewable energy sources.

Press rls_5_02_2026

At the initiative of TI BiH, a new Law on Conflict of Interest of FBiH has been submitted to the procedure

Press releases ● 28 January 2026

Sarajevo, 28 January 2026. years – For almost 13 years, there has been no body in the Federation of BiH that determines conflicts of interest, and numerous officials who perform multiple functions while their private companies freely obtain state contracts exploit this legal chaos. As the resolution of this issue has been obstructed for years, Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH), with the support of 13 representatives, launched an initiative and submitted to the procedure a proposal for a new Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Government Bodies in FBiH. The TI BiH initiative was supported by representatives from Our Party, SDA, NIP, DF, SBiH, HRS, and one independent representative. The goal of the proposal submitted to the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament is to establish an independent body that will determine and sanction conflicts of interest, verify asset declarations, and define clear rules regarding incompatible functions and restrictions relating to the private interests of officials.

Data from the Public Functions Registry established by TI BiH shows that 265 officials in FBiH currently hold additional functions in public institutions and enterprises. A large number of them thereby violate the still valid federal law, but there is no one to determine the conflict of interest because with the adoption of the new Law at the BiH level in 2013, this jurisdiction was taken away from the CEC. Since the new law in FBiH was never adopted, this opened enormous space for making decisions in private or party interests, including favoritism in employment, budget allocation, and public procurement. It is interesting to mention that data from TI BiH’s Integrity Watch platform shows that 20% of elected public office holders reported ownership in companies that received tenders in 2024.

TI BiH notes that the proposal submitted to the procedure is not a new text but a solution that has been prepared for many years and represents an important mechanism in the fight against corruption as well as part of reforms on the European path. The previous FBiH Government adopted the draft law in 2022, after years of preparation and consultations with relevant institutions, civil society, and international partners. The draft was then submitted to parliamentary procedure, but after the formation of the new FBiH Government in 2023, it was withdrawn “for revision.” Almost three years later, the FBiH Ministry of Justice continues to obstruct the adoption of the new Law, which it has never returned to procedure, nor are there clear indications that this will happen by the end of this mandate.

After multiple urgencies that TI BiH sent to the FBiH Government and Parliament, and general responses from institutions without clear deadlines for when the draft would be returned to procedure, TI BiH organized consultations with representatives and proposed that they use their procedural right and become proposers of the identical text that was previously withdrawn. TI BiH called on all representatives of the House of Representatives to join the initiative, with the goal that the law be the result of cross-party support. After collecting signatures, the draft law was submitted to the FBiH Parliament protocol on January 20. TI BiH calls on representatives to support and adopt this law as a clear message to citizens that public interest is above the interests of individuals and political parties. It is particularly important that the law be adopted in this mandate, considering that 2026 is an election year and that space for reform steps is rapidly narrowing.

PressRls 28.01.2026.

Politics and Private Business: Nearly 20% of Companies Owned by Elected Officials Do Business with the State

Press releases ● 30 December 2025

Banja Luka, 30. December 2025. year – Institutions at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina have awarded over 27,000 public procurement contracts to companies that supported political parties with donations in some election cycles from 2018 to the present. The total value of these tenders exceeds one billion convertible marks, most commonly awarded in areas such as alarm system monitoring services, security services, restaurant and catering services, and the organization of educational seminars.

Cross-referencing the asset declarations of politicians submitted to the Central Election Commission and public procurement data shows that 19.8% of elected officials, who declare ownership of private companies in their asset declarations, have conducted business with the state through awarded tenders. This percentage is 36.4% for officials elected in 2022, indicating a systemic conflict of interest problem that deepens during their term. The data available on the “Integrity Watch BiH” platform illustrate the high degree of connection between political parties, their donors, and the institutions managing the distribution of public funds.

One example of a contract that clearly illustrates this practice is the case of the Minister for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, Sevlid Hurtić, against whom Transparency International in BiH (TIBiH) filed a complaint for conflict of interest because his private company received multimillion-dollar contracts from budget-funded institutions. The Commission for Deciding on Conflicts of Interest determined only two years after the complaint that Minister Hurtić was in a conflict of interest and imposed a sanction, although in the meantime, his company continued to indirectly participate in public procurements through other legal entities.

An analysis of over 930,000 public procurement procedures in recent years conducted by TI BiH shows that companies owned by some elected officials in BiH received 2,450 contracts, while more than two-thirds or 76.9% of all tenders were awarded through direct agreements with suppliers, without the possibility of competition and participation from competitors.

Political parties record the most donations precisely in election years, while companies that received tenders account for about 10% of total donations to parties. This is only a small portion of the funds that parties report, given that previous research by TI BiH has shown that parties largely do not report donations.

What is particularly important to emphasize is that the data on ownership of business entities by politicians are limited to elected officials who submitted asset data to the Central Election Commission and do not include appointed individuals and all companies over which politicians have beneficial ownership, transferring ownership to third parties.

These phenomena are monitored by the “Integrity Watch BiH” platform, which provides a visual and analytical overview of public procurement procedures, searches for donations to political parties, and insight into the asset declarations of elected officials, all of which provide an overview of the mechanisms through which public resources are put at the service of private and party interests.

These findings are just another of many pieces of evidence that in BiH, as an example of a state whose institutions are captured, business success depends solely on connections with political parties and their leaders, who enable their donors – clients – unrestricted access to contracts through the public procurement system.

TI BiH calls on the media, researchers, and citizens to use Integrity Watch BiH as a tool that, by connecting three different data sources: reports from the Public Procurement Agency of BiH, financial reports of political parties, and asset declarations of elected officials, enables the detection of corrupt patterns and connections that have been capturing institutions and undermining the budget of BiH for decades.

Panel Discussion: 30 Years After Dayton – How to Build a Society Without Captured Institutions

Announcements ● 10 December 2025

Banja Luka, December 10, 2025 – On the occasion of marking 30 years since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement and 25 years of Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH), a panel discussion titled “30 Years After Dayton – How to Build a Society Without Captured Institutions” will be held on December 11, 2025, in Sarajevo at the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zelenih beretki no. 8), starting at 2:00 PM.

At the event, TI BiH’s analysis “BiH 30 Years After Dayton – Building a Captured State” will be presented, providing an overview of key political, institutional, and anti-corruption trends in post-Dayton BiH, reflecting on TI BiH’s activities during this period and possible scenarios for the coming decades.

The panel discussion will bring together prominent political, academic, and social figures who will speak from various perspectives on how to overcome systemic obstacles of state capture and create conditions for a genuine fight against corruption.

Media statements are scheduled for 1:45 PM.

Media Announcement_10_12_2025

Agenda Below

Panel Discussion:

“30 Years After Dayton – How to Build a Society Without Captured Institutions”

Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zelenih beretki no. 8

December 11, 2025 years

Agenda:

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Participant Registration

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM – Media Statements

2:00 PM – 2:15 PM – Opening Remarks

• Brigitta Jansson, Head of Cooperation (SIDA), Embassy of Sweden in BiH
• Boris Divjak, Chairman of the Board, TI BiH

2:15 PM – 2:45 PM – Presentation of the Analysis: “BiH 30 Years After Dayton – Building a Captured State”

Srđan Blagovčanin, Transparency International in BiH

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM – Panel Discussion: 30 Years After Dayton – How to Build a Society Without Captured Institutions

• Mladen Ivanić, Former Member of the Presidency of BiH
• Vildana Selimbegović, Editor-in-Chief of Oslobođenje
• Dragan Markovina, Historian and Publicist
• Nerzuk Ćurak, Professor, Faculty of Political Sciences Sarajevo
• Boris Divjak, Chairman of the Board, TI BiH

Moderator: Ivana Korajlić, Executive Director, TI BiH

4:00 PM – Reception

Level Of State Capture Of BiH: TI BiH Presents The “State Capture Index”, Parties Have Created A Parallel Universe

News ● 09 December 2025

Sarajevo, December 9th 2025 – Bosnia and Herzegovina can be rated 2 out of a possible 5 on the State Capture Index – meaning that the power of political parties over institutions and public resources suppresses citizens’ interests and hinders the proper functioning of the state.

The State Capture Index, presented by Transparency International in BiH (TIBiH) on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, measures key areas such as democratic processes (score 2), decision-making (2.5), accountability (2.5) and the distribution of resources (1.5 – the worst score). It points to serious systemic weaknesses, particularly the dominance of the executive over the legislative branch, which is supposed to oversee the work of the government. This conclusion is also found in the European Commission’s report on BiH, noting that “political authorities have failed to address widespread corruption and have actively hindered progress, leading to prolonged stagnation and increasingly evident signs of state capture.”

The analysis that underpins the Index shows that parties maintain their power by controlling resources and access to employment, keeping institutions under their influence, resulting in the absence of accountability and a weakening democracy. This is further reinforced by the lack of electoral integrity, leaving citizens unsure whether their vote truly counts and reflects their will, while efforts to establish any form of accountability system are systematically undermined. Such a situation allows political parties, through public procurement, concessions and employment in the public sector, to use public resources for the benefit of party networks rather than citizens. In addition, influence over accountability mechanisms—particularly oversight institutions, law-enforcement bodies and the judiciary—leads to selective enforcement of the law, while impunity remains widespread in BiH.

Moreover, the research finds that the media and civil society, although formally recognised as oversight actors in a democratic society, operate in a restricted environment, without real possibilities to fulfil their role in protecting the public interest and creating pressure for more accountable governance.

“We can describe the phenomenon of state capture as a parallel universe that is informal and operates alongside the official, institutional one. In that universe, parties dictate employment, manage state-owned companies and decide on tenders and concessions — in short, they divide resources. In this way, loyalty is rewarded and the system of state capture is maintained,” said Srđan Blagovčanin, lead author of the research and a member of TI BiH.

Blagovčanin stressed that the way out of this situation must follow two key directions: “We need to limit the power of political parties through their democratization, but also reduce the ‘spoils’ they control — by rationalizing the public sector, which is the source of their power,” he added, emphasising that political leaders cannot be expected to give up control over public resources voluntarily, which is why change must come from outside their control — from citizens, the private sector and civil society.

Because of these findings, part of the discussion at the conference “Power, Interests and the State: BiH State Capture Index”, organised with the support of Sweden and Denmark to mark 9 December, International Anti-Corruption Day, focused on establishing an effective system for preventing conflict of interest. On this occasion, an initiative and proposals were presented for a new Conflict of Interest Law at the Federation of BiH level, which has not been applied since 2013 and has been pending adoption for years. The proposals focus on establishing an independent body to enforce the law, creating a unified system for verifying asset declarations, and preventing private interests from influencing decision-making by public officials.

“The lack of transparency that lies at the heart of this problem threatens to undermine our efforts altogether, with dire consequences for citizens. Strengthening transparency, and rooting out corruption, is essential to realise Bosnia and Herzegovina’s progress towards EU integration.” said H.E. Åge Sandal Møller, Ambassador of Denmark to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which together with Sweden supported the conference and the research itself.

Sara Lindegren, Deputy Ambassador of Sweden to Bosnia and Herzegovina, noted in her address that “Corruption remains one of the greatest threats to the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The recent European Commission country report sends a serious warning: corruption is growing, and institutions are increasingly exposed to political influence,” adding that signs of state capture and a lack of progress in key areas, from the judiciary to public administration and electoral integrity, demand urgent action.

Press rls_9_12_2025

Despite the court ruling, the Ministry of Justice of BiH continues to refuse to deliver the draft Law on the Court of BiH.

Press releases ● 01 December 2025

Sarajevo, 1. December 2025. years – The Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina refused to publish the Draft Law on the Court of BiH even after a court ruling in favor of Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH). The draft of this law, which has been in the making for several years, was requested as early as March last year, after transitioning from the version of the Law on Courts of BiH to the Law on the Court of BiH, which has repeatedly been on the agenda of the Council of Ministers without informing the public about its content. Although the ruling of the Court of BiH indicates that one of the most important laws to be adopted in the process of European integration should have been published, the Ministry of Justice decided to ignore the ruling, explaining that the draft law is an “internal text.” Furthermore, at tomorrow’s session of the Council of Ministers, this law will be reconsidered, but now the amendments to the Law on the Court of BiH are in question, not the draft of a new law, and the public is once again deprived of information about the content of the proposed amendments.

At the end of October, the Court of BiH issued a ruling on the lawsuit by TI BiH, which clearly states that there is undoubtedly public interest in this case and that “in democratic societies, the procedures for adopting general legal acts are generally public so that the public, through its criticisms, can influence the drafting of future laws, which the legislator or proposer may or may not accept.”

Given that this law is being adopted in the process of European integration and represents one of the conditions that BiH must fulfill to hold the first intergovernmental conference, it should be emphasized that the Court of BiH’s ruling clearly highlights the need to protect the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court believes that the Ministry did not conduct a public interest test to justify the non-disclosure of the requested information. Nevertheless, despite the clear instructions from the court, the Ministry of Justice of BiH again refused access to the draft law, arguing that providing the draft would seriously undermine the completion of its harmonization and prevent the quality and coordinated preparation of the draft.

“In this way, incorrect interpretations of the draft’s content could be triggered, as well as unfounded public debates on solutions that are not final, creating pressure on the institutions involved in the harmonization process… Furthermore, providing the draft law at this stage could negatively impact the freedom of expression and exchange of opinions among the entities involved in its creation, as their proposals could be exposed to external pressure and interpretations,” states the Ministry’s decision.

TI BiH reminds that in this case, the draft law was not published on the eConsultations portal, the regulation could not be commented on, and there were only speculations regarding its content, which is why the Ministry was requested to provide the draft that was, at that time and in the subsequent period, several times placed and then removed from the agenda of the Council of Ministers.

We also note that the public in BiH has long witnessed non-transparent processes in the adoption of the most important laws on the European path. The latest example is the adoption of the Draft Law on the HJPC, which was on the agenda of the Council of Ministers’ session tomorrow before the consultations were completed. This example, as well as the mere concealment of the Draft Law on the Court of BiH, is a clear indicator that the public is systematically excluded in the adoption of the most important laws. TI BiH has previously proposed and initiated initiatives to introduce the obligation to publish materials for the sessions of the Council of Ministers, especially when it comes to laws directly related to the process of European integration, where transparency of all decision-making stages should exist—from working groups for law preparation, public consultations, reports on the content of public consultations, to the publication of the drafts themselves before their adoption.

Press-rls_01.12.2025.

Farce and Procedural Manipulation: Draft Law on HJPC Sent to Council of Ministers Despite Ongoing Consultations

News ● 28 November 2025

Sarajevo, 28 November 2025 – The Draft Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), which has been sent for public consultation, does not represent a step forward but rather a risk of further undermining the independence of the judiciary. Moreover, the Draft Law was placed on the agenda of the Council of Ministers even before the consultations were concluded, indicating procedural manipulation and that public consultations are merely a farce.

Regarding the content of the Draft, or the version currently under public consultation, instead of addressing previously identified issues, the draft further entrenches them by, among other things, solidifying ethnic quotas in the Council’s membership, which become a permanent rule. Additionally, it retains the principle of pre-determined distribution of positions based on ethnic affiliation and the institution from which candidates for judicial functions are nominated, which has already led to manipulations in practice to rig positions.

Instead of ethnic quotas being a temporary corrective mechanism, as recommended by the Venice Commission, the draft permanently embeds them into the law, making them a permanent rule for selecting HJPC members. Transitional provisions even allow for the quotas to remain in effect until potential EU membership, and even beyond, thereby long-term entrenching the practice of selecting members of the most important judicial body based on ethnicity rather than expertise, experience, and professional integrity. Besides establishing national affiliation as a permanent instrument of control over the Council’s work, this form of political influence can have serious consequences for its independence and functionality in the years to come.

An additional problem is the fact that the Rulebook on the Lottery Procedure under this draft is adopted by the HJPC and the Ministries of Justice at the state, entity level, and Brčko District level, giving the executive branch direct influence over a key part of the process of appointing Council members, and the composition of the Council further determines the application of all other provisions of the law.

On the other hand, key procedures are left to by-laws, and political influence on the selection of Council members remains possible through non-transparent procedures for selecting members who are chosen outside the judicial community, by the Council of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, and the Bar Associations of FBiH and RS.

In addition, the HJPC would further regulate a series of essential provisions concerning conflicts of interest, the selection of electoral commissions, appointment and promotion procedures, and rules for deviating from ranking lists through its rulebooks. Such a wide scope for arbitrary decision-making by HJPC members regarding their own obligations, oversight, and procedures, as well as the discretion thus created in terms of appointments, will not contribute to strengthening accountability and oversight. This weakens the already shaken public trust in the integrity of the judiciary and the accountability of judicial office holders, given the previous practice in which the HJPC changed the meaning of legal norms through secondary regulations.

The integrity and accountability of Council members can be seriously undermined by allowing members to assume office before asset and interest checks are completed, calling into question the legality of decisions in which they participated if negative findings are subsequently obtained. Additionally, the draft does not introduce a mandatory “cooling-off period” after the expiration of the mandate, i.e., a ban on candidacy for certain positions, meaning that Council members can immediately apply for judicial functions they previously decided on, effectively influencing their own appointment.

Furthermore, the solution that previous mandates of Council members, as well as leaders in courts and prosecutor’s offices, would not count towards the new mandate limit, practically allows the same individuals to remain in positions longer than is allowed for other judicial office holders, thereby weakening controls and mechanisms for limiting the concentration of power in the judiciary.

Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH) has pointed out these and other shortcomings of the draft through improvement proposals submitted to the Ministry of Justice of BiH. Nevertheless, the Draft Law on the HJPC has meanwhile been placed on the agenda of the Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for December 2, even though consultations are still ongoing. This clearly shows that the proposer does not intend to consider the views of the expert public, and it raises the question of which version will be presented to the Council of Ministers.

Adopting the most important judicial law in an atmosphere of pressure to quickly meet the conditions for starting negotiations with the EU and without real space and political will for quality public debate carries a serious risk of permanently undermining the rule of law in BiH. Instead of real reforms, an illusion of swift action is created, while serious shortcomings are presented as something that will supposedly be corrected through negotiations with the EU. Past experiences of adopting reform laws on the EU path show that poor norms are rarely corrected, while adopting inadequate solutions subsequently creates problems in their implementation and causes long-term damage.

Besides the fact that public consultations were evidently conducted only as a display of inclusivity, without real intent to consider proposals, this means that there is no time for adopting proposals gathered through public consultations, and the draft text is being changed while public consultations are still ongoing. Information on what exactly was presented to the Council of Ministers and what is ultimately adopted will not be known until it is already adopted and too late for any interventions and public participation.

TI BiH calls on the proposer to address the clearly identified shortcomings, as the law in its proposed form is not aligned with international recommendations and can create long-term negative consequences for the functioning of the judiciary. Considering that this is one of the key reforms in the process of accession to the European Union, we also call on EU institutions to publicly communicate expectations regarding the quality of provisions, the level of alignment, and “red lines” concerning this law, to prevent political manipulations and abuses of the European path at the expense of judicial independence.

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Enlargement back on the EU agenda: BiH can progress only with substantial reforms

Press releases ● 17 November 2025

The European Union’s enlargement policy today has stronger momentum than in previous years, with a clear commitment from the European Commission to open doors to new member states during this mandate. Despite the positive environment for enlargement, Bosnia and Herzegovina still lacks the political will to turn such an opportunity into real results. This is confirmed by the latest report from the European Commission, which clearly indicates a lack of progress in key reforms, as well as deterioration in certain areas, particularly those related to human rights and the fight against corruption.

This is why participants of the conference “Europe Calls – BiH on the Second Line,” held in Sarajevo and organized by Transparency International in BiH and the Initiative for Monitoring European Integration of BiH, emphasized that the upcoming period must focus on improving transparency and accountability in fulfilling the European Commission’s recommendations.

The need for depoliticizing technical processes on the European path was highlighted, which we have witnessed in recent years. When fulfilling the remaining requirements for accession negotiations, including the Law on Courts of BiH and the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, it is crucial to fully respect the recommendations of the Venice Commission and other relevant international bodies. This process must be opened to the public to enable meaningful participation of civil society and other interested actors. Participants particularly emphasized that compromises should not be made at the expense of the rule of law and the protection of human rights, which has happened in the past and had long-term consequences for the functionality of institutions. These minimum standards must become a priority in the EU’s messages to domestic institutions to prevent the possibility of political manipulation of the European path during the pre-election period.

Participants emphasized that when appointing the chief negotiator, it is important to ensure full respect for constitutional competencies, but also to consider the expertise and experience of the candidate who should speak on behalf of BiH. At the same time, it is necessary to improve the capacities and functionality of existing institutions, including the Directorate for European Integration and the coordination mechanism, and to clearly define the roles of all involved actors during the negotiation process.

Civil society represents a significant resource for European integration, thanks to its expertise, long-term monitoring of reforms, and achievements in areas such as the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and the protection of human rights. Therefore, civil society should be involved in the development of public policies and their implementation and oversight.

The first major test for this approach will be the formation of structures for the implementation of the Reform Agenda within the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The Initiative for Monitoring European Integration of BiH is already working on mapping actors and preparing proposals for consultation models and the inclusion of civil society in this process. BiH institutions are expected to fully comply with the Regulation on the Establishment of the Instrument for Reforms and Growth for the Western Balkans, which clearly prescribes the active participation of civil society, especially in the monitoring phase of reform implementation. It was also emphasized that the content of the Reform Agenda must be accessible to the public so that citizens, media, and civil society organizations can monitor the commitments made by institutions and evaluate their performance. Experiences from partner organizations in the region show that transparency and quality information contribute to faster and more successful implementation of reforms.

The concluding message of the conference was that the capacity and willingness to monitor and support the reform process on the part of civil society exist, but that real results require the political will of institutions to recognize this capacity and enable its meaningful participation in all stages of reforms. Institutions are expected to demonstrate a pro-European commitment through the adoption and consistent implementation of reforms, and improved communication with the public so that citizens can more clearly understand the concrete benefits of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s integration into the EU.

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TI BiH and the Initiative for Monitoring European Integration are organizing the conference “Europe Calls – BiH on the Second Line”

Announcements ● 14 November 2025

Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) and the Initiative for Monitoring European Integration BiH on Monday November 17, 2025, at the Swiss Hotel in Sarajevo are organizing the conference “Europe Calls – BiH on the Second Line”.

The occasion for holding the conference is the publication of the European Commission’s report on BiH’s progress on the European path, where a civil society perspective will be provided on the level of fulfillment of previous recommendations and the report itself. Participants will discuss the current situation, plans within European integration, the new Reform Agenda, and the role of institutions and civil society in its implementation.

Ambassadors of member states, delegations of the European Union in BiH, international organizations, BiH institutions, and civil society organizations will participate in the conference.

Statements for the media are scheduled at 10:10 AM

Announcement and agenda

Agenda

10:00 – 10:30 Participant registration and welcome coffee

10:30 – 10:50 Conference opening and introductory remarks

• Åge Sandal Møller, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark in BiH
• Anne-Marije van de Staaij, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH
• Ivana Korajlić, Executive Director, Transparency International in BiH

10:50 – 12:00 Panel I: BiH’s European Path through the Prism of Promises, Results, and Readiness

• Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in BiH
• Darija Ramljak, Assistant Director and Head of the Sector for Strategy and Integration Policies
• Adnan Ćerimagić, Senior Analyst, European Stability Initiative (ESI)
• Denis Džidić, Executive Director, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network BiH and Initiative for Monitoring European Integration BiH

12:00 – 12:10 Short break

12:10 – 13:20 Panel II: Reform Agenda – Who, What, How, and When?

• Amina Mulabdić, Directorate for Economic Planning BiH
• Fermin Cordobra, Policy Officer, EU Delegation in BiH
• Stefan Ristovski, Researcher, European Policy Institute (EPI) Skopje
• Edo Kanlić, Advocacy and Public Policy Manager, TI BiH and Initiative for Monitoring European Integration BiH

13:20 – 13:30 Conclusions and closing remarks

A responsible government has nothing to hide: Open all phases of decision-making by governments and parliaments.

Press releases ● 13 November 2025

Mostar, November 13, 2025 – Transparency International in BiH presented recommendations at the conference “Open Government for an Open Society” in Mostar for governments and parliaments to improve transparency in decision-making at all levels of government in BiH. This includes: establishing the obligation for timely and regular publication of documents accompanying government and parliamentary decision-making, publishing agendas and draft decisions before and after sessions, developing and enhancing electronic tools and platforms for citizen engagement and public discussions, ensuring public participation in working groups for law preparation, etc.

The event highlighted positive examples of proactive transparency from the BiH Parliament, the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton, and the Assembly of Brčko District BiH. Practices of these institutions were presented by the Prime Minister of Ze-Do Canton, Nezir Pivić, the President of the BD Assembly, Damir Bučević, and the Head of the Public Relations Sector of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, Zlatko Vukmirović. Despite room for improvement, these institutions lead in publishing key documents and developing digital solutions that allow citizens easier access to information of public importance.

However, the latest review of the level of proactive transparency in decision-making processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina shows that, despite visible progress, further and more serious improvements are needed for transparency to become the norm rather than the exception.

The research showed that no government in BiH regularly publishes materials from held sessions, while the Council of Ministers is the only executive institution whose minutes from held sessions are published, albeit with certain delays.

This fact, along with the fact that only 3 out of 14 governments in BiH regularly publish decisions on their official websites, indicates that citizens are not adequately informed about executive decisions that directly affect them, which reduces the level of trust in their work.

Although a slight improvement has been observed in the publication of annual work programs, which are now regularly published by seven governments, the publication of annual reports remains at an extremely low level.

The state of proactive transparency is no better in legislative bodies across BiH, as cantonal assemblies, entities, and both houses of the BiH Parliament do not regularly publish plans or reports on conducted public discussions, and only 6 out of 16 legislative bodies regularly publish reports on their work. A positive circumstance is that all assemblies regularly publish agendas, but access to other information remains uneven – still, 4 cantonal assemblies do not publish materials for sessions.

TI BiH calls on all levels of government to recognize transparency as a key mechanism for strengthening integrity and accountability of government in BiH. Timely, complete, and proactive publication of information must become an inseparable part of institutional practice, so that citizens have a real insight into the decisions made on their behalf. Therefore, in the coming period, TI BiH will again send initiatives to governments and parliaments with concrete guidelines and solutions for establishing more transparent practices.

The conference was held with financial support from Sweden and Denmark.

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International Right to Know Day: Citizens’ right to information must be fully guaranteed

Press releases ● 30 September 2025

Sarajevo, September 30, 2025 – A weak legal framework at all levels still allows institutions to hide information of public interest, undermining transparency and reducing the accountability of public institutions. The new law at the BiH level, presented as reformative, has brought new challenges in implementation, as warned by civil society organizations. This was conveyed at a round table organized by Transparency International in BiH and the association Your Rights BiH, with the support of the European Union, on the occasion of International Right to Know Day.

The gathering presented initiatives to improve the legal framework at all levels of government, in response to the practice where institutions used legal loopholes to prolong disputes, did not consistently comply with court decisions, and restricted public access to information crucial for promoting transparency and accountability.

At the entity level, institutions are still not required to proactively and regularly publish key information of public importance such as budgets, contracts, reports, while the new law at the state level still does not yield the expected results. Therefore, the initiative proposes measures to address key shortcomings of the legal framework:

• In RS and FBiH, introduce provisions on proactive transparency, prescribe inspection oversight, misdemeanor provisions, and fines for violations of the law.
• At the BiH level, prescribe sanctions for non-compliance with legally prescribed deadlines, change the policy of imposing fines, and establish an independent second-instance decision-making mechanism for appeals.

In Brčko District, a particular challenge remains the absence of a law regulating this area for two years.

The adoption of a new law at the BiH level has brought certain improvements, including provisions on proactive transparency. At the same time, it has created new grounds on which institutions can deny access to information, raising concerns that information of public importance may remain inaccessible to citizens and the media. An Appeals Council was also established within the BiH Council of Ministers, questioning the independence of this body.

According to TI BiH data from the beginning of 2024 to June 2025, the Council received 108 appeals, of which 12 were dismissed, 20 were upheld, while in 62 cases the appeal was rejected. So far, 15 administrative disputes have been initiated against the Council’s decisions, and the BiH Court has issued two judgments, one accepting the lawsuit and one rejecting it.

• These indicators clearly show that the existing second-instance mechanism for protecting the right to access information is not sufficiently functional and independent, and its engagement in improving legal protection is completely lacking. We call on the competent institutions to establish an independent and impartial body to decide on appeals in access to information procedures, in accordance with best practices in the region and international recommendations, as stated by TI BiH.

The gathering highlighted that BiH still faces serious challenges in implementing the freedom of information law, including inconsistency in decision-making, institutional delays, and a lack of proactive transparency. Participants exchanged experiences and presented proposals for improving the law, aiming to strengthen institutional accountability and ensure consistent application of this right at all levels of government.

Aurelie Valtat, Head of the Sector for European Integration, Political Affairs, Media, and Information at the EU Delegation in BiH, stated: “The European Union has long supported reforms that strengthen transparency, accountability, and good governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The new state Freedom of Information Act must be translated into real practice, not remain just a dead letter. To this end, with our support, Transparency International BiH and Your Rights BiH have developed an online platform that facilitates the submission and tracking of information access requests. We call on institutions, civil society, and the media to seize this moment to make transparency a reality for all citizens.”

Initiatives to improve the laws regulating this area will be submitted to governments and legislative bodies at all levels. Representatives of the media and civil society organizations, who submit the majority of requests to institutions, called on the authorities to ensure a transparent process and avoid repeating the shortcomings observed during the adoption of the law at the state level.

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Initiative for Monitoring the European Integration: Bosnia and Herzegovina risks losing an additional 108 million euros if it does not adopt the Reform Agenda.

Press releases ● 20 September 2025

Sarajevo, 20. September 2024 – The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not adopt the Reform Agenda at its last session, risking the loss of an additional 108 million euros. While countries in the region are already utilizing funds from the Growth Plan, Bosnia and Herzegovina still does not have access to the funds because domestic politicians have not agreed on the text of the Reform Agenda. Due to delays, 108.5 million euros have already been lost, and the European Union has warned that funds for Bosnia and Herzegovina will be reduced again by the same amount if the document is not adopted by the end of September 2025. .

Therefore, the Initiative for Monitoring the European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a coalition of civil society organizations, calls on parliamentary clubs in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina to request an urgent session dedicated to the country’s European path. This session should discuss the adoption of the Reform Agenda within the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and the consequences its non-adoption has for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the Western Balkans that has not adopted the Reform Program, known publicly as the Reform Agenda, a year after the deadline, which has already led to a significant reduction in funds. The fact that even after this sanction, the Council of Ministers has not reached an agreement shows that the warnings of the European Union have not been taken seriously and that additional institutional engagement and calls for political accountability are needed. The irresponsible behavior so far directly harms citizens, further undermines Bosnia and Herzegovina’s credibility in the European integration process, and sends a negative signal to investors about the country’s stability and predictability.

The non-adoption of the Reform Agenda best illustrates the stagnation on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path. Since the approval of the negotiation status in March 2024, none of the key conditions for holding the first Intergovernmental Conference between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU have been met. Reports and conclusions from EU institutions adopted over the past year also point to stagnation and regression in many areas.

The Council of Ministers has not taken these warnings seriously, which is why parliamentarians, as directly elected representatives of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, must demonstrate political responsibility and use their competencies. Members of the Initiative call on representatives to support the initiative for an urgent session of the House of Representatives and to obligate the Council of Ministers to urgently adopt the Reform Program before the deadline for adoption and new sanctions.

European integration is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most important foreign policy goal and requires a cross-party approach. Broad support from all parliamentary clubs would be a clear signal of responsibility and readiness to continue Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European path. This is an opportunity for the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ahead of Commissioner Marta Kos’s visit, to show that it has the strength to oversee the executive branch and can direct reform processes in the interest of citizens.

Initiative for Monitoring the European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Members of the Initiative:

Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevski otvoreni centar

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Bosnia and Herzegovina

Center for Investigative Reporting

Your Rights Bosnia and Herzegovina

Citizens’ Association “Why Not”

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly of Banja Luka

Association for Democratic Initiatives

Association of BH Journalists

Youth Center KVART

Foundation CURE

MyRight

Women’s Association “Make a Difference”

Trag Foundation

Sharp zero

Roma Information Center Kali Sara

Association “Aarhus Center in Bosnia and Herzegovina”

Association “Land of Children”

TRIAL International in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Youth Initiative for Human Rights Bosnia and Herzegovina

Foreign Policy Initiative Bosnia and Herzegovina

Association “To PeeR”

Network for Building Peace

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TI BiH on the failure to adopt the Reform Agenda: Bosnia and Herzegovina is losing hundreds of millions due to the personal interests of individuals

Press releases ● 27 August 2025

Sarajevo, 27 August 2025 – The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina once again failed to discuss the Reform Agenda at today’s session. Due to this delay, Bosnia and Herzegovina lost €108.5 million in July — equivalent to 10% of the funds allocated under the Growth Plan. While neighbouring countries are already making significant use of these funds, BiH continues to lag behind, even compared to those that obtained their European perspective much later. Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) therefore calls on the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to hold a special session and adopt conclusions that will oblige the Council of Ministers to adopt the Reform Agenda without further delay. The authorities have repeatedly missed the deadlines they set themselves, and the European Commission has announced another 10% reduction if the Reform Agenda is not adopted by the end of September.

It is evident that key decision-makers in BiH continue long-standing obstructions of the EU integration process, despite the fact that the implementation of these reforms is crucial for establishing an effective rule of law and combating corruption. Once again, the authorities have placed daily politics, personal and party interests above the interests of citizens and the country’s foreign policy priorities. With such an approach, the real challenges are yet to come in the implementation phase, especially considering the level of obstruction already visible in adopting the Reform Agenda, where only two out of 113 measures remain disputed — the removal of the entity veto in the State Aid Council, and the obligation to respect and fill vacant positions in the Constitutional Court of BiH.

However, many other measures included in this document have been repeatedly identified as priorities on BiH’s EU path, yet have never been fulfilled. It is therefore clear that the dispute over these two measures merely serves as a pretext to sabotage the entire EU integration process.

It should also be stressed that the drafting of the Reform Agenda has been marked by a complete lack of transparency. The Council of Ministers failed to communicate about the process, and the public learned about disagreements only through opposing statements from political parties, rather than through official channels of institutions responsible for managing EU integration. Parliaments and their competent committees have remained silent observers, without taking steps to place this issue on the agenda or exert pressure on the executive to adopt the Reform Agenda.

This process also clearly demonstrates that the coordination mechanism for EU integration, established in 2016, does not function as intended and is being misused in key processes — from responding to the European Commission Questionnaire, to drafting the Integration Programme, and now the Reform Agenda. The voting rights of all levels of government, combined with the rule of unanimity regardless of actual competences, have turned the coordination mechanism bodies into instruments of obstruction rather than drivers of reform progress.

TI BiH therefore urges the Council of Ministers of BiH to adopt the Reform Agenda without delay, fully aligning it with the requirements of the European Commission, to ensure access to funds under the Western Balkans Growth Plan. TI BiH also calls on parliaments and their committees for European integration to hold thematic sessions and hearings to raise this issue publicly, exert pressure on the executive to open the process to citizens, and reassess the functionality of the coordination mechanism.

TI BiH further calls on competent institutions to stop misusing the European integration process and ensure that all laws and policies on the EU path are adopted through regular procedures, with mandatory public consultations.