A group of 23 local governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, meeting in Sarajevo on 24 May 2022, has established a platform for exchanges on issues of local governance between local governments and cities across the country.
The platform aims to help local governments improve the quality of local democracy and promote open, accountable and inclusive decision-making. It acts as a network where experiences and good practices are shared among municipalities and cities within Bosnia and Herzegovina and local governments across Europe.
Participating local governments* will engage in capacity-building activities in the areas of democratic innovation, deliberative tools, public participation, open government, public ethics, and transparent and accountable local decision-making. dialog. The platform will also support the strategic priorities of the main partners of the project, the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Repubblika Srpska.
“The current situation, characterized by multiple crises, puts to the fore the need for increased accountability and transparency, systematically tackling inequalities, and strengthening public participation in community life, and Congress has made this point. We are pleased to be able to support local governments across the country in the parliamentary governance committee, Jelena Drenjanin, emphasized at the opening of the conference.
“In the year Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates its 20th anniversary as a member of the Council of Europe, it is wonderful to see local governments across the country working together to best serve the needs of people in their communities.” emphasized. Ms. Boyana Ulmova, Executive Director of the Council of Europe Sarajevo.
“We are grateful to receive concrete support from the Council of Europe, which is recognized by local authorities across the country. We all look forward to benefiting from the results of this programme.” ” said the Secretary General of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on behalf of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska.
This first meeting served as an opportunity for mayors and local council heads to come together and share peer-to-peer experiences on innovative topics with their European counterparts in Ireland, Sweden and the UK. A democratic approach, open government, political integrity and transparency to enhance public trust.
Inputs and conclusions from this meeting will serve as a basis for further developing the capacity of local governments within the platform.
*Municipalities/cities participating in these activities are Berković, Bijelina, Bratunac, Brod, Sentar Sarajevo, Doboj Brod, Doboj Jug, Gradačac, Ilyash, Jajce, Jezero, Kostanica, Loparé, Rukavac, Magrai, Modrica, Mostar, It’s Orache. , Sokolac, Teslić, Travnik, Vareš, Vukosavlje.
The first meeting of the exchange platform will be in the framework of the project “Innovation of democratic participation at the local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” carried out by the Local and Regional Authorities Conference within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022. was organized within 2025. The project aims to improve the quality of local democracy and create opportunities for citizens to participate in innovative participatory processes in Mostar and elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy-making within the country.
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