PRESS RELEASES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

TI BiH: The proposed Law on Financing Political Organizations of RS undermines the institutional order and legalizes extortion and corruption.

Press releases ● 20 May 2025

Banja Luka, 20. May 2025: The Law on Financing Political Organizations, which the parliamentary majority in the Republic of Srpska has submitted for urgent procedure, will create a parallel system and open up significant space for corruption. This will allow public money to be siphoned into party coffers through privileged private companies, while on the other hand, it will severely impact all parties that do not have control over public resources.

This undermines the institutional order and creates legal uncertainty, as it introduces the jurisdiction of the Republican Election Commission, even though the control of financing is prescribed by the Election Law and the Law on Financing Political Parties of BiH and is under the jurisdiction of the Central Election Commission of BiH.

The proposed Law abolishes budget financing for all parties in response to the OHR’s decision to suspend budget payments to SNSD and United Srpska, as its adoption nullifies the Law on Financing Political Parties from the budgets of the Republic, city, and municipality. The effects of this will be felt most by parties not in power, which will lose the largest portion of their income in this way, and the primary intention is to enable ruling parties to compensate for these revenues through donations from privileged private companies.

This solution allows them to donate up to 100,000 KM to the party, which directly contradicts the state law regulating this area. Additionally, higher limits are set on donations from party members and individuals, which is in complete opposition to the state law.

Furthermore, unlike the current BiH Law, no bans are foreseen on party donations from companies doing business with the state, which practically means the legalization of corruption and a form of extortion.

How this looks in practice is well known to the public from the “corona contracts” affair, where one of the accused in this case admitted in court that he allegedly took 250,000 KM of public money obtained through a tender to United Srpska. TI BiH has repeatedly warned about such occurrences because the reported election campaign expenses are much lower than the actual ones, and just for the last elections the parties reported at least 2.6 million KM lower expenses than TI BiH’s estimate.

From all this, it is clear that the ultimate goal of this proposal is to enable additional sources of funding for parties that have already been abusing public funds, and whose budget financing has now been abolished. What remains unclear is how the proposed law would even be enforceable, given that all issues of revenue, expenses, reporting, oversight, and auditing of parties are already regulated at the BiH level. Therefore, TI BiH calls on deputies to reject this solution because, apart from undermining the institutional order, it also introduces complete chaos in the area of political party financing.

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BH Judiciary Increasingly Closed to the Public: Courts and Prosecutor’s Offices Selectively Share Information, Ignore Citizens and Media

Press releases ● 23 April 2025

Banja Luka, April 23, 2025 – The Cantonal Court in Zenica, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Brčko District of BiH, the Municipal Court in Tuzla, and the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska are among the highest-rated judicial institutions in BiH according to the Judiciary Transparency Index. In contrast, the lowest-rated institutions show a worrying unwillingness to seriously address corruption.

The highest transparency index scores were recorded by the Cantonal Court in Zenica (87), the Prosecutor’s Office of the Brčko District of BiH (85), and the Municipal Court in Tuzla (82). Also ranking in the top five are the Zenica-Doboj Canton Prosecutor’s Office (81) and the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska (80). On the other hand, the lowest-rated institutions include the Municipal Courts in Kalesija and Sarajevo and the Basic Court in Doboj (30), the Basic Court in Zvornik (29), and the Municipal Court in Srebrenik (26), marking them as the least open judicial institutions in BiH (full results at the end of the release).

The Judiciary Transparency Index, which measures the level of proactive, reactive, and media transparency, shows that one-third of all 94 courts and prosecutor’s offices at all levels in BiH do not respond to media inquiries about their cases. Additionally, 50% of prosecutor’s offices ignored media requests regarding the content of appeals, while 62% of courts refused to provide or completely ignored inquiries about the verdicts they issued.

Media requests for audiovisual materials and access to indictments are most frequently rejected. This obstructive attitude further hampers public oversight of the judiciary.

The index evaluates the availability of information on websites, responses to access to information requests, and cooperation with the media. Each of the three components carries a specific number of points (52, 30, and 18), which together form a total score on a 0–100 scale.

Overall, the analysis shows slight improvement compared to 2022 – more than half of all access to information requests were resolved within legal deadlines with complete responses, and the number of ignored requests dropped from 16% to 12.8%. However, the growing number of rejected requests is concerning, as it may signal increasingly closed institutions.

A further concern is the unequal treatment of requesters – TI BiH received full responses within legal deadlines in over 70% of cases, while citizens received the same information in only 35% of cases. A third of citizens’ requests go unanswered, and every tenth is rejected, indicating systemic discrimination and denial of the public’s right to information.

Proactive transparency has further declined – the number of courts publishing annual plans fell from 61 to only 23, while most courts and prosecutor’s offices still do not publish their budgets online. Although significant progress has been made in regularly publishing hearing schedules (71 of 74 courts), there is still a serious lack of access to court decisions – decisions from 34 courts remain unavailable to the public.

The availability of information on confirmed indictments has significantly improved – the number of prosecutor’s offices publishing full indictments rose from 3 in 2022 to 11 last year. However, six prosecutor’s offices in BiH did not publish information on proposed custody measures in 2024, compared to only one in 2022.

Judicial transparency is crucial for institutional accountability, public trust, and the fight against corruption. However, the analysis by TI BiH and BIRN BiH shows that courts and prosecutor’s offices in BiH still fall short of basic openness standards. Research points to arbitrary application of freedom of information laws, frequent delays, incomplete responses, and violations of legal procedures. These results reflect a broader trend of restricting access to information, a trend TI BiH had already highlighted in 2023 when criticizing a draft law that diminishes existing rights and fails to align with international standards.

TI BiH therefore reminds all institutional representatives, especially in the judiciary, of the importance of the right to freedom of access to information and the significance of proactive transparency as key mechanisms for ensuring citizens’ rights and improving access to justice, thereby strengthening accountability and integrity in the public sector – essential conditions for effective anti-corruption efforts.

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Transparentnost pravosuđa (infografike)

Increased Number of Corruption Reports – Citizens Increasingly Seeking Legal Assistance

Press releases ● 31 March 2025

Banja Luka, March 31, 2025 – In 2024, the Legal Aid Centre of Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) handled 391 new cases based on citizen reports, marking an 8.1% increase compared to the previous year. The growing number of cases and citizen reports points to the increasing frequency of corruption, confirmed by the findings of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks BiH as the second most corrupt country in Europe, but also reflects rising public trust in the effectiveness of legal aid provided by TI BiH.

TI BiH responded to 1,694 calls through the toll-free hotline 0800 55555, and 377 cases were initiated based on citizen reports, while 14 were initiated by the Centre. As in previous years, the majority of reports concerned the public administration sector (166), followed by the judiciary (36), education (33), and healthcare and conflict of interest (26 each).

The Centre’s work also led to concrete results in actions taken by judicial institutions. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office of FBiH upheld two complaints filed by TI BiH, overturning previous decisions not to conduct investigations in the case of a rigged recruitment at the Oriental Institute of the University of Sarajevo and the decision of the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of SBK not to investigate unpaid concession fees worth over BAM 1.7 million.

A significant part of the Centre’s work focused on protecting the right to access information, with 32 administrative disputes launched due to violations of the Freedom of Access to Information Act—marking the highest number in the past four years and confirming previous TI BiH findings that public bodies show an unsatisfactory level of transparency and protection of the public interest.

Two cases relate to the denial of information by the BiH Prosecutor’s Office concerning persons sanctioned by OFAC and corruption-related investigations. TI BiH won 16 cases launched in previous years, granting citizens and journalists access to information that had previously been withheld.

Based on TI BiH’s complaints, the BiH Ombudsman Institution issued four recommendations, while three criminal complaints for corruption-related offences were submitted to the competent prosecutors. Additionally, the Centre filed four appeals to the Constitutional Court of BiH, and one appeal from the previous year was upheld, confirming the violation of the right to a trial within a reasonable time.

Institutional responses and court decisions in cases initiated by TI BiH confirm the need for continued reform in appointment practices and procedures within public institutions. Notably, the RS Commission for the Prevention of Conflict of Interest determined that a municipal councillor and acting assistant minister in the RS Government was in a conflict of interest, while a ruling by the District Court in Banja Luka confirmed that acting officials are subject to the same obligations as permanent officeholders.

Furthermore, the RS Appeals Commission annulled the decision to dismiss the case against an advisor to the RS president over potential incompatibility of functions, creating space for further proceedings in this case.

TI BiH submitted three complaints to the Central Election Commission concerning the holding of incompatible functions and violations of the BiH Election Law. In total, 26 cases related to conflict of interest were recorded in 2024, indicating that institutions remain insufficiently committed to addressing corruption risks in this area.

The Legal Aid Centre of Transparency International in BiH remained a key actor in the fight against corruption in 2024, providing tangible legal protection to citizens while also initiating systemic changes that contribute to greater institutional accountability and transparency.

Number of Corruption Indictments Lowest in the Past Four Years: Ensure Judicial Independence and Prevent Further Pressure

News ● 19 March 2025

Sarajevo, March 18, 2025 – The judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to yield to corruption – sentences are dominated by suspended penalties, investigations are being dropped, acquittals are becoming more frequent, and the number of convictions for high-level corruption has decreased compared to the previous year. In 2024, some prosecutor’s offices did not issue a single indictment for high-level corruption crimes, and the lenient penal policy combined with a declining number of indictments confirms the institutions’ alarming unwillingness to seriously tackle corruption.

Of the 194 corruption convictions, nearly half (46%) resulted in suspended sentences, and in 2024 there were 130 final convictions, almost 8% fewer than in 2023. Meanwhile, courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina issued 20% more acquittals in 2024 compared to the previous year (26 vs. 31), despite BiH being ranked the second most corrupt country in Europe and scoring its worst result since 2012 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International.

One of the key factors in the widespread presence of corruption is the penal policy, which not only lacks severity but shows a trend toward further leniency. The share of fines in final judgments increased from 4.7% to 8.4%, while corruption offences are still most commonly sanctioned with suspended sentences, which accounted for 51.5% of final convictions in 2024.

Data published by TI BiH on the Interactive Map of Corruption Prosecution show that BiH prosecutors have also made little progress. In 2024, they issued 699 decisions not to conduct investigations – 6.2% more than the previous year – while the number of newly opened corruption investigations decreased. Of 262 resolved investigations, 98 were terminated, meaning that one in three corruption investigations ended with dismissal. The number of initiated investigations for high-level corruption dropped by 15%, and the number of indictments filed for corruption offences reached a four-year low.

Notably, the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Offices in Posavina Canton, Canton 10, West Herzegovina Canton, Goražde Canton, and the Brčko District Prosecutor’s Office issued no indictments for high-level corruption in 2024. This highlights the urgent need to establish operational conditions for the Special Department of the Federal Prosecutor’s Office to combat corruption, organized crime, and inter-cantonal crime.

TI BiH, together with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN BiH), conducted a study on the transparency of judicial institutions. The findings show that courts and prosecutors responded within legal deadlines to only 40% of freedom of information (FOI) requests submitted by citizens. One-third of citizen requests (35%) were either ignored or rejected. In contrast, TI BiH received complete responses in 72.3% of cases, suggesting that institutions discriminate based on who is submitting the request, assuming citizens lack the means or motivation to pursue appeals and enforce their legal rights.

Some improvements were observed: the number of prosecutor’s offices publishing full indictments rose from 3 in 2022 to 11 in 2023. However, given that 45% of prosecutor’s offices still do not publish indictments and that citizens’ FOI requests are not treated equally, there remains significant room to improve judicial transparency.

The event also served as an opportunity to discuss the adoption of the new Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), with an emphasis on ensuring judicial independence from the executive. TI BiH reiterated its earlier proposals for clear criteria for selecting HJPC members, prioritizing qualifications over ethnic background, preventing conflicts of interest through stricter provisions and sanctions, and establishing effective asset verification mechanisms, including mandatory disclosure of close relatives’ assets.

TI BiH has also long advocated for defining clear criteria for appointing commission members who evaluate and test candidates for judicial positions, in order to prevent subjective influence and manipulation. The Venice Commission, in its Opinion on the draft HJPC law, endorsed many of TI BiH’s recommendations, stressing that competence should take precedence over ethnicity and that objective, measurable criteria should guide the selection of candidates for key judicial positions.

Who Pays for the Election Campaign? Parties Concealed BAM 2.6 Million in Reports, Election Law Amendments Failed to Prevent Misuse of Resources

Press releases ● 17 March 2025

Sarajevo, March 17, 2025 – Political parties concealed at least BAM 2.6 million in campaign expenses in their post-election financial reports, while the amendments to the Election Law imposed by the OHR failed to prevent the misuse of public resources, according to a Transparency International in BiH report on the monitoring of the Local Elections, presented today in Sarajevo.

The legal amendments were intended to regulate party financing and prevent the abuse of institutional resources, public funds, and official functions for campaign purposes. However, TI BiH’s data shows that all levels of government distributed approximately BAM 60 million in one-off payments to pensioners and other social groups before the elections. Although the law clearly prohibits indirect vote-buying through public funds, these provisions were rendered ineffective in practice due to the way the Central Election Commission (CEC) applied them.

The CEC received over 200 reports of resource misuse from various sources, yet sanctions were issued in only 6% of cases, mostly related to the misuse of communication tools on social media.

In terms of campaign spending, TI BiH’s monitoring of pre-election rallies and advertising via billboards, media, and social networks estimated that parties spent over BAM 12.3 million. However, in their official post-election reports, all parties collectively reported only BAM 9.7 million in campaign expenditures. This is BAM 2.6 million less than TI BiH’s calculation based solely on four campaign segments, with the SNSD alone concealing approximately BAM 1 million.

During a panel discussion held at Europe House in Sarajevo, representatives of political parties, the Central Election Commission, and civil society emphasized the need to further improve election legislation and called on Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to adopt the necessary technical amendments to the Election Law.

The goal should be to introduce new technologies and solutions to prevent electoral result manipulation, vote-trading in polling station committees, and the misuse of public resources. Existing legal provisions restricting the use of public resources need to be strengthened, and limitations on public spending during the pre-election period must be established.

It is also essential to improve transparency in campaign financing, as the current legal framework enables political parties to finance a significant part of their campaigns through prohibited sources, namely privileged private companies that do business with the public sector.

Authorities Introduce Brutal Dictatorship in Republika Srpska – Arson of Nebojša Vukanović’s Car a Result of Lynch-Mob Atmosphere

Press releases ● 14 March 2025

Banja Luka, March 14, 2025 – By adopting the Law on the Protection of the Constitutional Order of Republika Srpska, which establishes parallel judicial institutions and a para-intelligence “Service for the Protection of the Constitutional Order,” the ruling regime is ushering Republika Srpska into a phase of open dictatorship. This will have devastating consequences for citizens’ human rights and freedoms, which have already come under brutal attack in recent days. The persecution of dissent is now legalized, while the creation of such bodies gives the regime the tools to repress opponents by the most brutal means.

Transparency International in BiH warns that such laws and actions are characteristic of authoritarian regimes and, rather than protecting the constitutional order, they in fact represent its grave undermining. These developments lay the legal groundwork for state terror against its own citizens – a culmination of earlier decisions. Such processes are typical in dictatorships where legitimacy is lost, and the authorities resort to legal and violent methods to suppress dissent.

We recall that the government has already adopted a series of laws restricting media freedom, freedom of speech, association, and public assembly. This has been followed by legislation that not only disrupts the constitutional framework and attacks institutions, but also aims to assert full control over the judiciary and law enforcement agencies – with the sole purpose of shielding Milorad Dodik from prosecution.

Finally, the adoption of such laws is taking place in a lynch-mob atmosphere orchestrated by the ruling authorities, with open calls for violence from the parliamentary floor and attacks on journalists and the opposition. This has culminated in the arson of opposition MP Nebojša Vukanović’s car outside his family home in Trebinje – an act that TI BiH strongly condemns, calling on institutions to respond urgently.

Transparency International in BiH therefore urges an immediate constitutional review of these legislative provisions and calls on law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens. We also expect institutions themselves to resist pressure and attacks in order to uphold the fundamental rights of the public.

Professional supervision, written testing and interview recording – proposals for fair and equitable employment

Press releases ● 12 March 2025

Sarajevo, March 12, 2025 – Recording interviews, mandatory written testing of all candidates using advanced question-selection software, professional and independent oversight of the entire recruitment process, and mandatory public reporting on conducted competitions are among the key proposals for a fair and transparent public sector employment process put forward by Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH).

Employment is the area where citizens most frequently encounter corruption, as shown by data from the TI BiH Free Legal Aid Center, which has handled 2,936 citizen reports since 2011, with 1,191 related to public administration, primarily employment. The widespread nepotism, favoritism toward politically connected candidates, and lack of transparency have led nearly four-fifths of BiH citizens (78.6%) to believe that public sector jobs are obtained “through connections.”

“Recruitment processes in the public sector are too often under political control, criteria are interpreted selectively, and favored candidates are known in advance. This situation enables political manipulation and supports a captured state — where institutions serve party interests instead of those of citizens,” was stated at the Fair and Transparent Employment conference organized by TI BiH under the project Preventing the Capture of Institutions and Public Resources (CERC), implemented with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom through the UK International Development program.

For this reason, TI BiH has proposed a new model of oversight over recruitment procedures in the public sector, to be entrusted to independent bodies such as anti-corruption offices, responsible for selecting, training, and supervising employment supervisors. This supervision mechanism should be institutionalized through regulations on hiring procedures by cantonal ministries of labor, ensuring adequate training and capacity-building of supervisors to guarantee their expertise.

In addition to supervision, stricter and fairer recruitment procedures have been proposed, including mandatory written testing, using exam questions generated immediately before the test via software solutions, and mandatory video recording to ensure objective and impartial evaluation and oversight at all stages.

It is also proposed that supervisors’ reports on conducted procedures be made publicly available, providing the public with an additional layer of control, while candidates would have the opportunity for direct communication with supervisors to report any irregularities in the recruitment process. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the proposal includes clear obligations for supervisors to report identified irregularities and for institutions to act on supervisors’ findings.

Employment supervision was previously applied in Sarajevo Canton but was abolished in 2024. Although it showed certain shortcomings in its design and application, it demonstrated that supervisors prevent irregularities at an early stage — before they develop into serious abuses.

“Supervisors influenced greater caution by commissions, correction of mistakes on the spot, and the creation of an atmosphere of accountability. Their presence reduced the possibility of manipulation, while candidates had an additional channel to report suspicions. Although the mechanism was abolished in 2024, analyses clearly show that its potential was much greater,” showed the analysis presented by TI BiH at the conference.

The proposed supervision mechanism is not just an administrative tool — it is an institutional response to the systemic problem of corruption in employment. Through transparency, independence, and public accountability, this model can become the foundation for fairer employment, reducing corruption risks and limiting the space for political control over public sector hiring.

Therefore, Transparency International BiH has called on governments and will submit official initiatives for them to urgently adopt regulations institutionalizing the supervision mechanism in employment and establishing clear standards of transparency, objectivity, and accountability in recruitment procedures.

Laws Adopted by the RS National Assembly Represent a Retaliatory Attack on All Critical Voices

Press releases ● 28 February 2025

The laws adopted by the ruling majority in the National Assembly of Republika Srpska constitute a retaliatory blow against all critical voices in the entity, particularly targeting independent civil society organizations, media, and the opposition. The undersigned civil society organizations stress that the adoption of the so-called “Foreign Agents Law,” which has long been threatened, has created the groundwork for systemic persecution of dissent. Furthermore, amendments to the Criminal Code, intended to force state-level MPs, judicial officeholders, and other BiH institutional employees into blindly following the decisions of the RS ruling majority, represent a severe blow to the foundations of democracy in the country. These laws were adopted in an atmosphere of public lynching and persecution fostered by government officials, culminating in last night’s assault on journalists by an advisor to the RS President – an attack we strongly condemn.

The Law on a Special Registry and Publicity of Non-Profit Organizations was passed under urgent procedure, with claims that its rejection would “undermine the constitutional order,” effectively putting a target on numerous organizations and media already labeled “enemies” by the government in recent days. This law was introduced as an act of revenge and part of a broader political response to the verdict against Milorad Dodik, debunking claims that its true aim was to “increase transparency and prohibit political activity by associations.”

We emphasize that RS institutions already have full legal authority to monitor financial and other operations of civil society organizations. Political activity by associations is already prohibited under current law – yet, this has clearly not applied to government-controlled NGOs, budget-funded groups that openly supported political parties and candidates in previous elections.

Under this law, any organization receiving international funding will automatically be branded a “foreign agent,” despite the fact that RS authorities themselves rely on funding from the same sources. Additionally, the law prohibits independently funded associations from proposing laws or “influencing public opinion,” precisely because they expose systemic problems in society.

This law provides a legal basis for arbitrary targeting and shutdown of any organization not aligned with government interests, under vague and subjective interpretations, on grounds such as political activity or undermining the constitutional order. Affected groups could include those working on human rights and anti-corruption, but also sports clubs, women’s rights organizations, labor unions, consumer rights defenders, and humanitarian NGOs.

The law will have devastating consequences for many organizations that have long supported citizens through social assistance, protection from violence and abusers, humanitarian action, legal aid, and more. We particularly stress that the amendments to the Criminal Code constitute an unacceptable attack on the core democratic values, allowing the ruling majority to control MPs, judges, prosecutors, officials, and other institutional employees.

These laws violate the Constitutions of Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and key international standards. They will not only silence or ban civil society organizations and stifle dissent but will also bring economic harm through the isolation of RS, stalled European integration, and reduced investment. We therefore call on the delegates in the Council of Peoples to stop the adoption of these repressive laws and urge the authorities to refrain from this and other announced acts of retaliation.

Signed by:

Banjalučki centar za ljudska prava
Centar za demokratiju i tranzicionu pravdu, Banja Luka
Centar za građansku suradnju, Livno
Centar za mlade KVART Prijedor
Centar za informativnu dekontaminaciju mladih
Centar za promociju civilnog društva CPCD
Centar za razvoj medija i analize CRMA
Centar za životnu sredinu
Centri civilnih inicijativa CCI
Fondacija “Lara”, Bijeljina
Fondacija “Udružene žene”, Banja Luka
Fondacija lokalne demokratije
Helsinški parlament građana Banja Luka
Humanitarna organizacija „Genesis Project“
Kuća ljudskih prava Banja Luka
Omladinska organizacija “Centar” Mrkonjić Grad
Oštra Nula
Mreža za izgradnju mira
Radnička solidarnost
Restart Srpska
Rosen Metod Centar BiH
Transparency International u Bosni i Hercegovini (TI BiH)
Udruzenje “Novi put”, Mostar
Udruženje građana “Mikro mreža”, Gradiška
Udruzenje gradjana “Buducnost”
Udruženje “IMPULS”
Udruženje Dignitet
Udruženje građana eTrafika.net
Udruženje građana RS “Stop mobbing“
Udruženje nezavisnih stvaralaca i aktivista GETO
Udruženje paraplegičara i oboljelih od dječje paralize Velika Kladuša
Udruženje Umbrella
Udruženje Val
Udruženje za promociju evropskih standarda i unapređenje poslovnog ambijenta Banjaluka
Udruženje za promociju medijskih sloboda, kritičko i istraživačko novinarstvo (SKIN)/Valterportal
Udruženje za zaštitu životinja Vardi
Udruženje žena “Napravi Razliku”
Udruženje žena Plane Makljenovac
UG SEMPER – portal Gerila
Ženska vizija Tuzla
Zdravo da ste
Udruženje građana “Druga priča” Trebinje – portal Direkt
Moja Hercegovina
Fondacije za kreativni razvoj iz Sarajeva
Udruge za promoviranje društvene solidarnosti “Srce za bližnje”.

Worst Result Yet: BiH Among the Three Lowest-Ranked Countries in Europe in Terms of Corruption

News ● 11 February 2025

Sarajevo, 11 February 2025 Bosnia and Herzegovina has suffered a significant decline in this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), recording its worst score to date with 33 points, placing it alongside Belarus as the second worst-ranked country in Europe. This represents a drop of two points compared to last year and a decline of nine points since 2012, when BiH was among the better-ranked countries in the region. Today, it sits at the bottom of the Western Balkans, which on average shows slight progress.

The latest drop was heavily influenced by the collapse of integrity in the electoral process, as serious allegations of electoral fraud have plagued several election cycles. BiH now ranks alongside authoritarian regimes where governments have never changed through elections. Amendments to the electoral law imposed by the High Representative failed to address the issue, as the Central Election Commission effectively nullified most of the provisions meant to prevent abuse of public resources and manipulation of polling boards.

In a country with a façade of democracy, a government facing a legitimacy crisis is intensifying pressure on critics. This has been most visible in Republika Srpska through a series of attacks on civil society and the adoption of repressive laws aimed at silencing independent media and disabling associations not controlled by the government. This year’s TI report emphasizes that strong democratic institutions are key to effective anti-corruption efforts. Fully democratic states average a CPI of 73, flawed democracies 47, while non-democratic regimes average 33 – the exact score BiH received this year.

The focus of this year’s global CPI research is the impact of corruption on the environment. It shows how powerful individuals profiting from environmental destruction use their wealth and influence to buy government support and suppress dissent. This is highly relevant to BiH, where, following the tragedy in Jablanica and numerous ecological issues (such as Bistrica, Lopare, Ozren, Vareš, Livno, and the Gudron pit in Modriča), it has become clear that profits for a few matter more to authorities than the lives, safety, and health of local populations. TI BiH’s data on concessions show that the state earns modest revenues from significant natural resources, while individuals benefit due to weak laws and non-transparent governance, avoiding obligations and acquiring public assets at the expense of the public interest.

The dire state of the judiciary remains BiH’s weakest link. TI’s regional report notes that upcoming judicial reforms still contain many shortcomings. These reforms fail to improve the appointment process or ensure effective asset checks for judges and prosecutors. Last year’s amendments to the HJPC Law, intended to address these issues, have yet to be implemented. The captured judiciary continues to show poor results in prosecuting high-level corruption. Despite some convictions of senior officials in the Federation last year, the most serious corruption scandals remain unresolved.

Given all this, institutions must undertake urgent reforms. In its comprehensive National Integrity Study, Transparency International outlined anti-corruption steps across key sectors. These include regulating conflict of interest, systemic whistleblower protection, stronger oversight of the executive, electoral reform, and strengthening the independence of the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies – all of which align with BiH’s path toward EU integration.

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Additional content

• More on CPI 2024
• Global CPI 2024
• CPI 2024 East Europe and Cental Asia
• CPI 2024 Presentation
• CPI 2024 Media Kit

INTRODUCING THE ‘ACCESS TO INFORMATION’ TOOL: A STEP TOWARD GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN BIH

Press releases ● 30 January 2025

Sarajevo, January 30, 2025 – Today in Sarajevo, the online tool ‘Access to Information’ (Pristupi Informacijama) was officially presented. This platform enables users to create requests for free access to information directed at all institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tool, available at pristupinformacijama.ba, provides an automated and intuitive process for submitting requests and allows citizens, media, and civil society organizations to draft and send follow-ups and appeals, as well as receive reminders for deadlines at each stage of obtaining information of public importance.

“The aim of this tool, whose development was supported by the European Union, is to enhance access to information, which not only improves the transparency of public authorities but also increases citizens’ participation in the work of institutions. This is a fundamental prerequisite for the democratic nature, openness, and accountability of institutions, stated Aurelie Valtat, Head of Political, Press and Information Section at the Delegation of the European Union in BiH.

The Access to Information tool features an intuitive and user-friendly interface that guides users through each step of drafting an access to information request. It also contains a database of several thousand public institutions, agencies, enterprises, and organizations at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing citizens to direct their inquiries appropriately.

Once a request is created, users can print and send it to the relevant institution, after which the tool tracks deadlines and automatically notifies users of available options, such as sending a follow-up or appeal if the public authority fails to respond within the legally prescribed timeframe. Additionally, citizens can request legal assistance if they encounter difficulties in obtaining the requested information.

“Our goal was to provide citizens with a simple and intuitive way to draft their requests independently, enabling them to obtain information from public authorities, as this is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed by freedom of information laws,” said Marko Vujić, a legal aid associate at Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH), which implemented the project in collaboration with Vaša prava BiH (VP BiH).

It is important to emphasize that the Access to Information tool enables users to submit requests to all public institutions in BiH while automatically selecting the appropriate legal framework based on the level of government and the institution’s jurisdiction. This feature significantly simplifies the process, considering that three different laws currently regulate access to information in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The presentation of the Access to Information tool also highlighted shortcomings in the Freedom of Information Law in BiH. A legal analysis of the law reveals inconsistent terminology, unclear provisions on the public interest test, a lack of harmonization with other legal acts, unjustifiably long response times, and the absence of adequate sanctions, all of which hinder its implementation and reduce the efficiency of public access to information.

“Due to vague provisions and inconsistencies with other laws, which allow for ambiguous interpretations, the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina has become arbitrary and unreliable, further eroding public trust in institutions,” said Emir Prcanović, Director of Vaša prava BiH.

The discussion also highlighted weaknesses in the entity-level access to information laws, such as the lack of proactive disclosure provisions, non-compliance with international standards, and the absence of an oversight mechanism in the Freedom of Information Law of Republika Srpska.

Enhancing transparency and institutional accountability is crucial for rebuilding public trust and ensuring the effective functioning of a democratic society. To this end, TI BiH plans to organize training sessions and workshops for media professionals and civil society representatives to familiarize them with the Access to Information tool. These efforts aim to promote the practical application of the right to information and encourage greater proactive transparency among public institutions.

TI BiH: Introduction of Censorship “Through the Back Door” via Amendments to the FBiH Criminal Code

Press releases ● 28 January 2025

Sarajevo, January 28, 2025: The Federal Ministry of Justice’s intention to penalize the publication of personal photos, videos, and other content without consent through fines and imprisonment, as proposed in amendments to the Criminal Code of the Federation of BiH, opens the door to abuse and imposes censorship in the public sphere, warns Transparency International in BiH.

The proposed Article 193a is even more repressive than provisions in the controversial amendments to the RS Criminal Code that criminalized defamation in 2023 and laid the groundwork for suppressing public criticism. While in Republika Srpska unauthorized publication is punishable only if it causes harm to the person depicted or their family, the FBiH proposal treats any publication without consent as a criminal offense, creating broader potential for misuse.

Furthermore, the draft lacks clear exemptions for cases of public interest – such as content exposing illegal activity or harm to others. The provision is also problematic in that it criminalizes publication of any content of a “personal nature” without defining what this entails, leaving room for arbitrary interpretation and sanctions.

The explanation for the draft amendments states that this criminal offense was added after the public consultation phase, supposedly in response to requests from the “social community” to protect privacy. Notably, this provision was not part of the initial draft that underwent public debate, where many organizations and individuals had the opportunity to provide input. By introducing it later, the public was denied a chance to comment on the potentially harmful implications of such a provision.

The House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament adopted the draft in 2022 and tasked the proposer to conduct public consultations and consider all feedback.

However, since the criminal offense of Unauthorized Publication and Display of Files, Portraits, and Recordings was not included in the draft, the public was denied the opportunity to submit comments or suggestions. TI BiH has therefore contacted the Federal Ministry of Justice requesting information on when the provision was added to the final proposal and at whose initiative.

TI BiH stresses that public participation in lawmaking is essential to identify potential legal ambiguities, risks of abuse, and harmful impacts. While protecting privacy is legitimate, legal amendments aimed at protecting vulnerable groups and clarifying forms of violence must not be misused to impose censorship or restrict media freedom.
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Press rls_28.01.25

TI BiH: Fight against corruption is deliberately obstructed – Authorities’ priority is to maintain control over institutions

Press releases ● 12 December 2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina has still not made significant progress in the fight against corruption, and it remains a serious concern, requiring intensified efforts to achieve a consistent track record in combating corruption. The lack of harmonization of the legal framework areas of the country continues to hamper the fight against corruption. The legal framework for preventing corruption is still incomplete, and the adopted anti-corruption laws are not consistently and efficiently implemented, while key mechanisms and bodies for the prevention and fight against corruption at various levels remain fragmented and uncoordinated.

While citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina expect the results in fighting corruption, especially high-level corruption, drafts of important laws have been waiting for adoption for years and the authorities in BiH show little will to establish independent and effective institutions for their implementation. These were the topics discussed at the conference “Strengthening Integrity and Accountability in the Fight Against Corruption in BiH.”

“Tackling corruption is vital primarily for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens. On the other side, there can also be no progress towards EU membership without progress in the rule of law. Despite progress in strategies and investigations, the low number of final convictions in high-level corruption cases remains a serious issue. Institutional reforms, professionalizing anti-corruption bodies, and harmonizing efforts are critical for sustainable results. The EU will continue to support BiH’s efforts in strengthening the rule of law and fight against corruption,” said Aurelie Valtat, Head of European Integration, Political, Press and Information Section at the EU Delegation to BiH.

‘’Corruption remains one of the greatest threats to the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But corruption is not an unavoidable component of governance, it can be combated with the correct strategies, policies, and leadership. Today’s decisions will shape the future of the generations to come, and it is imperative that those decisions are made with the highest ethical standards. Together with our partner Transparency International, Sweden supports Bosnia and Herzegovina to build alliances, share best practices, harmonize Anti-Corruption efforts, and support transparency and accountability’’, Ambassador of Sweden in BiH, H.E. Helena Lagerlöf, said.

The conference specifically highlighted the need for establishing efficient conflict of interest prevention system, aligned with international standards. There are delays in applying the law at the level of BiH institutions, which means that conflicts of interest at this level of government remains unaddressed. There has been no improvement in entity-level laws, with the situation remaining most alarming in the Federation of BiH, where for over ten years there has been no body responsible for deciding on conflicts of interest. As a result, more than 230 officials in the Federation are currently holding multiple positions, often presenting conflicts of interest, while institutions make contracts with the family businesses of public officials or appoint their family members to key positions without any responsibility or consequences. In Republika Srpska, recent amendments to the law have failed to improve the existing framework, while major shortcomings in the work of the competent Commission have further highlighted the urgency of comprehensive reforms to establish a consistent and efficient conflict of interest prevention system.

Deficiencies have also been identified in other areas, which, despite certain changes in the previous period, still hinder effective corruption prevention. A prerequisite for quality decision-making processes and efficient institutional oversight is the improvement and harmonization of freedom of information laws at all levels. It is also necessary to adopt a whistleblower protection law in the Federation of BiH, while at other levels of government, mechanisms for their protection need to be strengthened. This would provide better support for whistleblowers and more efficient detection of irregularities. The new provisions of the Election Law have not achieved their goal of preventing the abuse of public resources, highlighting the need for stronger control and accountability.

“The long-standing trend of worsening corruption in BiH, in addition to the devastating social and economic consequences, is also leading to paralysis and dysfunctionality within the institutional framework. This situation undoubtedly also has security implications, making the country a fertile ground for organized criminal groups and various extremist organizations. The standard of living of citizens is also strongly conditioned by the level of corruption, which is confirmed by the fact that GDP per capita in BiH is only 36% of the EU 27 average, which is even lower than the regional average of the Western Balkans,” said Srđan Blagovčanin, Chairman of the Board of TI BiH.

Press rls_12.12.24

Judicial reform key to fight against corruption

News ● 09 December 2024

Sarajevo, decembar 9th 2024 – December 9th, International Anti-Corruption Day was marked in Sarajevo today, which was an opportunity to emphasize the urgent need to enhance the fight against corruption and strengthen the rule of law. The conference provided a platform for key institutions to engage in a dialogue on the state and possible solutions in the field of justice sector reform.

Corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a serious concern, requiring intensified efforts to achieve a consistent track record in combating corruption. Judicial reforms addressing systemic challenges, restoring public trust, and upholding the rule of law are needed. To this end, BiH must establish an effective Justice Sector Reform Strategy as soon as possible. Furthermore, key legislation – i.e. the Law on the HJPC and the Law on Courts of BiH – are expected to be aligned with the EU standards. The civil society has an important role in providing suggestions to policymakers on how to shape future judicial reform. Thhese are some of the messages from the conference organized by Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) and the EU4Justice project, with the support of the European Union.

“For Bosnia and Herzegovina there can be no progress towards EU membership without progress in the rule of law and fight against corruption. This is not only essential on the EU path but will also improve the quality of life for people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and foster long-term development. We will continue to be a loyal partner to Bosnia and Herzegovina by supporting efforts to strengthen the rule of law and the fight against corruption. The citizens of this country expect that this will be a top priority for political actors, and they can count on our support,” said Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conference, which brought together representatives of institutions from all levels of government, international and regional organizations, discussed the current state of the judicial reform, the consequences of the lack of reforms on widespread corruption in the country, within two panels.

Minister of Justice of BiH, Davor Bunoza, one of the keynote speakers and panelists, said:”Reform of judiciary is a difficult road that we have to cross on the way to the EU. We must adopt and apply laws for our own sake. Harmonization of regulations with the EU acquis will always result in a higher degree of rule of law. The judicial reform has started, the results will not come overnight.”

At the conference, the importance was pointed out that reforms must lead to the independence, efficiency and integrity of the judiciary, which will be able to process high-level corruption cases and respond to the key challenges facing BiH. Also, it was stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the mechanisms of integrity and accountability of judicial office holders, as well as to reduce inappropriate influences by improving the process of appointing judges and prosecutors.

“The judiciary in BiH is in a state of complete institutional captivity, which results in impunity for political corruption, and often in the instrumentalization of the judiciary to achieve the particular interests of the ruling oligarchy itself. Unfortunately, despite the fact that reforms to strengthen the rule of law and strengthen integrity in the judiciary itself are highly prioritized in the European integration process, their effects so far could hardly be characterized as anything other than a farce,” said Srđan Blagovčanin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TI BiH.

The need to ensure both transparency of the process and a quality systemic solution regarding the new Law on the HJPC was emphasized, and comments and suggestions for improvement were addressed, especially when it comes to specifying provisions on preventing conflicts of interest, the appointment of prosecutors and judges, as well as members of the Council, and the criteria for selecting members of the Council were discussed. The importance of inter-institutional cooperation, asset forfeiture, and financial investigations as prerequisites for a more efficient fight against corruption was also discussed.

„Although we ourselves are not entirely satisfied with what has been achieved, we expect the efforts made so far to be recognized, as well as the results that no one can ignore. Among other things, we have a former Prime Minister of the FBiH government, a former state minister, who have been convicted of high-level corruption, and one of them is currently on trial before the Court of BiH. Through the investigations launched at the end of last year and this year which have resulted with the deprivation of liberty of the former President of the Court of BiH and former Director of the Intelligence and Security Agency, as well as with the investigation against the former Director of the Border Police, who is on the run, we have shown our determination to prosecute all those for whom we find evidence, regardless of their status or the function they perform,“ highlited Milanko Kajkanić, Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH.

With EU support, economic advisors have been vital in assisting prosecutors’ offices with financial investigations into economic crimes, organized crime, and corruption. Their efforts have resulted in 91 first-instance convictions, 13 second-instance convictions, 15 final acquittals, and 16 first-instance acquittals. This highlights the need for a systemic solution to ensure their permanent role and continued support for prosecutors, enabling effective handling of complex cases.

„The EU4Justice Project contributed to articulate concete activities and relevant indicators of the Action Plan with measures of the Reform Programme concerning the fight against corruption and organised crime. Recently, on 26 September 2024, the Project was involved in drafting the ‘Guidelines for Chief Prosecutors on Establishing Internal Coordination System of Forfeiting Proceeds of Crime’ that was adopted by the HJPC BiH. The Guidelines will ensure consistent and harmonized practice throughout BiH and facilitate prioritization of Organised crime and Corruption cases that contain proceeds of crime,“ cocluded Isabelle Arnal, EU4Justice Team Leader.

Press rls_9.12.24

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Srpska Continues to ignore court decisions, despite the fourth verdict in favor of TI BiH

Press releases ● 29 November 2024

The District Court in Banja Luka has upheld the fourth lawsuit filed by Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH) against the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Republika Srpska, once again ordering the Ministry to clearly explain why the concession contract for the Banja Luka–Prijedor highway was classified as exempt from disclosure. The ruling emphasized that the Ministry prioritized the commercial interests of the Chinese investor over the public interest, without conducting a public interest test or providing specific evidence of commercial harm from disclosing information from the Financial Model, thus misapplying the Law on Freedom of Access to Information.
According to the Court, even if the commercial interests of the Chinese company were at risk, the Ministry was still obligated to assess whether disclosing details of the contract – such as financing methods and projected toll revenues – would serve a greater public benefit than protecting the concessionaire’s confidential business interests.
Despite clear legal obligations and four court rulings, the Ministry continues to deny access to key information from the highway construction contract, relying on vague claims of business secrecy.
In addition to these violations, the Ministry also denied the right to appeal its decision, thereby breaching not only the Law on Freedom of Access to Information, but also the Law on Administrative Procedure and the Constitution of Republika Srpska, which guarantees the right to appeal. TI BiH recalls that in this case, the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman also issued a recommendation in 2022, ordering the Ministry to act on the submitted appeal.
Since 2021, TI BiH has been seeking access to all essential elements of the contract for one of the most important infrastructure projects in RS, citing public interest and suspicions that the deal was concluded under detrimental conditions for the entity.
In this case, TI BiH has been denied access to information despite four administrative disputes resolved in its favor and the annulment of all Ministry decisions. TI BiH requested that the Court notify the Republic’s Administrative Inspectorate due to the Ministry’s continued non-compliance and asked the Court to resolve the matter itself, but the Court refused, even though it is evident that the Ministry is abusing procedural powers to the detriment of TI BiH.

Press rls_29.11.24

The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended the investigation against Milorad Dodik, even though he publicly admitted that he was eavesdropping on the opposition

Press releases ● 26 November 2024

Banja Luka, November 26, 2024 – The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina passed an Order on the suspension of the investigation against Milorad Dodik, even though he publicly stated that he was eavesdropping on the opposition. This statement was made at the session of the 13th Special National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska (NSRS) on May 20, 2020. Nine days later, after the complaint of Transparency International in BiH and the representative of the opposition, the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested the first checks be carried out, but the Order on the implementation of the investigation was passed in September 2022, after Dodik declared that he was also eavesdropping on the US ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since the order to conduct the investigation was passed too late, that is, two years after this criminal offense was reported, in the opinion of the TI BIH, significant time was lost for gathering evidence. It follows from the prosecutor’s decision that certain pieces of evidence could not even be collected, because they are kept for a maximum of one year, which raises the question of why it took two years to issue an order to conduct the investigation? The Prosecution states that cooperation with the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSA) was established, and the agency was given the opportunity to verify these allegations without detailed explanation.

Also, checks were carried out in order to determine the possibility of expertise of a certain server through which legal interceptions of telecommunications are carried out, and in order to determine whether there is recorded communication on it that indicate possible illegal interception. The aforementioned checks showed that the data is stored on the server for a maximum of one year, and that it is almost impossible to remove the server for inspection or expert examination, as this would jeopardize all investigations in which special investigative actions are being carried out. Namely, the legal interception of communications would have to be terminated, and there is no other server, according to the prosecutor’s decision.

It also follows from the decision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina that numerous witnesses were heard in this case, but not the suspect Milorad Dodik. It should be emphasized that the acting prosecutor had the opportunity to conduct special investigative actions against the suspect, bearing in mind that he was charged with the criminal offense of Unauthorized eavesdropping and sound or optical recording, however, the decision did not state that these actions were undertaken. TI BiH sent a complaint to the Chief Prosecutor of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, and pointed out the shortcomings of the specific procedure.

It should be noted that numerous witnesses testified in this case, the then opposition MPs Nebojša Vukanović, Draško Stanivuković, Ivanka Marković, Miladin Stanić, Nedeljko Glamočak, Davor Šešić, Milan Tubin, Zoran Vidić and Tomica Stojanović and Branislav Borenović. The then Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Srpska, Dragan Lukač, whom Dodik addressed at the disputed session when he publicly stated that he was eavesdropping on opposition MPs, and even provided details of allegedly recorded phone conversations, also testified.

SIPA was also engaged in the investigation by the order of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, which checked, as stated, the activities of the Ministry of Interior of the RS related to the use of equipment used to carry out special investigative actions “surveillance and recording of technical communications”.

Given that Dodik specifically claimed to have a phone recording of Nebojša Vukanović and Draško Stanivuković, in March of this year the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued orders to the Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SIPA and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RS, to check whether the phones of the two then MPs were the subject of special investigative actions from November 2018 until the session in 2020. However, it is not clear from the Decision whether the Prosecution checked if the disputed telephone conversation was audible recorded.

These three institutions informed the Prosecutor’s Office that their telephones were not the subject of special investigative actions, and from the testimonies of the two MPs, the Prosecution could not conclude whether Dodik’s claims refer to the content of the telephone conversations between Stanivuković and Vukanović.

From the above, the Prosecutor’s Office concluded that there is not enough evidence that Dodik committed the criminal offense of Unauthorized eavesdropping and sound or optical recording, which is why the investigation was suspended.

The New Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council at the Crossroads Between Profession and Politics

Press releases ● 05 November 2024

Sarajevo, November 5, 2024 – The professional public is dissatisfied with the content of the Draft Law on the HJPC, as well as with the drafting process itself, which was conducted non-transparently, without the participation of the public or representatives of the judiciary. Moreover, there is a concerning degree of influence from the executive branch in shaping one of the most important reform laws within the EU integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Draft of the new Law on the HJPC does not include clear criteria for selecting Council members, whose appointment remains subject to external influences, with an obligation to adhere to ethical quotas rather than candidate qualifications. This leaves room for appointments that could undermine the integrity and independence of the judicial system.

Furthermore, the new Law on the HJPC, drafted by a Working Group and prepared by the Ministry of Justice, contains numerous shortcomings, including insufficiently precise provisions for preventing conflicts of interest, property declaration, and verification. The Council composition and the appointment commissions are also problematic, according to the message from the roundtable titled “The New Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council: A Crossroads Between Expertise and Politics” held in Sarajevo.

“It is of utmost importance that the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina responds to the comments and recommendations on the draft law submitted by professional associations and representatives of civil society, so we can know whether these were taken into account by the Working Group responsible for drafting the law,” stated Judge Goran Nezirović, presenting the recommendations and observations of the Joint Coordination Body of Judges and Prosecutors regarding the proposed text of the law.

Focusing on competence and measurable criteria of expertise, rather than ethnic affiliation or regional representation in the appointment of judges and prosecutors, is also among the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the EU that were not taken into account during the drafting of the new proposed law.

“Numerous shortcomings have been identified, including insufficiently precise provisions regarding the criteria for selecting Council members, the process of appointing judges and prosecutors, preventing conflicts of interest, and asset verification,” said Ivana Korajlić, Executive Director of TI BiH, commenting on the draft of the new Law on the HJPC. She emphasized that there must be no room for varied interpretations and that this opportunity should be used to establish a clear system of accountability, as well as high standards for the appointment, evaluation, and integrity of judges and prosecutors.

Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the Joint Coordination Body of Judges and Prosecutors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized a roundtable where representatives of the judiciary, the professional public, and non-governmental organizations presented their comments and analyzes of the proposed legal framework, which, in its current form, contains many shortcomings.

On this occasion, TI BiH urged decision-makers to make substantial improvements to the draft law in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission, as well as the professional public in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly regarding the criteria for selecting HJPC members, transparency, and meritocracy in the process of appointing judges and prosecutors. Concerns were reiterated that the draft law does not define the procedure for appointing commission members or mechanisms for testing candidates for judicial positions, leaving room for manipulation in the appointment process. Additionally, many key issues are left to be regulated by secondary legislation, which reduces the quality of the final solution and further excludes the public and professionals from the process of defining provisions to minimize undue influence and irregularities.

The Law on the HJPC is one of the key reform laws, on which the complete functioning of the judiciary depends, and therefore the functioning of society as a whole, and requires a thorough and systemic approach. That is why it is necessary to prevent the adoption of inadequate and truncated legal solutions whose consequences can be far-reaching, while the question arises of true commitment to the implementation of essential reforms necessary for the establishment of a minimum of responsibility and the rule of law in BiH.