Sarajevo, 26 February 2025 February 2026. years – Oversight of public spending is crucial for effective anti-corruption efforts, and Transparency International in BiH has presented 13 databases that help detect irregularities to all those who wish to monitor and control government operations. On these platforms, media, civil society organizations, activists, and all interested citizens can find out how public money is spent and how much goes to companies connected to elected officials, as nearly 36% of those who declared ownership in private enterprises after general elections have business dealings with the state.
The Register of Public Officials reveals over 300 political leaders who hold multiple positions or head associations funded from the budget, thereby directly violating existing conflict of interest laws. The Concessions Register provides a broader picture of public resource management and politically connected investors, while other databases help uncover their connections with heads of institutions, public enterprises, and establishments.
On dedicated platforms, TI BiH has also published data on the transparency of judicial institutions and their results in fighting corruption in terms of the number of investigations, indictments, and convictions for corruption. How closed the system is and how much institutions obstruct oversight is best illustrated by data from the Judiciary Index, according to which as many as 35% of courts and prosecutor’s offices violated the legal deadline for responding to freedom of information requests, 46% of courts do not publish first-instance verdicts, and 85% of prosecutor’s offices conceal plea agreements.
In addition to hiding its work from citizens, the judiciary’s work is characterized by the fact that half of the prosecutor’s offices in BiH do not conduct investigations into high-level corruption at all, which represents a serious blow to the rule of law and the culture of accountability.
All of this necessitates initiating a broader societal debate on these issues, which was the reason for holding the conference “Citizens, Tools, and Open Data: How to Access Information of Public Interest” organized by Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) today in Sarajevo. The conference served as an introduction to the TI BiH Expo – an exhibition of databases and tools developed to enable easier access to public information, which is crucial for corruption prevention. That this is a fundamental issue for the European path was also emphasized by H.E. Åge Sandal Møller, Ambassador of Denmark to BiH.
“Transparency and access to information for citizens and media are essential prerequisites of every democratic society. Open data not only strengthens trust in institutions but is also a key tool in fighting corruption and a driver of economic growth. Denmark is a country founded on trust in institutions, and the fight against corruption is essential on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU path. Our support aims to encourage civil society efforts whose oversight role is absolutely necessary , stated Ambassador Møller.
The Delegation of the European Union to BiH emphasized that the availability of information of public interest is crucial for empowering citizens in a democracy.
“Therefore, it is of crucial importance for BiH to establish a fair and effective mechanism for monitoring the implementation of laws that guarantee free access to public information, ensure impartial legal remedies, and impose sanctions. The European Union will continue to advocate for cooperation between public institutions, civil society, and media to achieve this , stated Aurelie Valtat, Head of the European Integration, Political Affairs, Media and Information Section at the EU Delegation to BiH.
To facilitate access to information and break down the “wall of silence,” TI BiH has, in addition to the aforementioned information, opened to the public on various platforms data on the operations and management structures of public institutions and enterprises, the distribution of public funds to non-profit organizations, information on the prosecution of corruption and transparency of judicial operations, monitoring of reforms in the field of anti-corruption, as well as various tools for oversight of public fund distribution, strengthening institutional integrity, and accountability of holders of the highest public offices.
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