Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a potential candidate country following the Decision of the Thessaloniki European Council of June 2003. Since then, a number of agreements between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina have entered into force - visa facilitation and readmission agreements (2008), Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related issues (2008). The EU continues to be present in Bosnia and Herzegovina within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the European Security and Defence Policy.

Legislative alignment with the EU environment and climate legislation remains at an early stage; requiring further strengthening of administrative capacity, and improvements in horizontal and vertical inter-institutional cooperation.

The level of alignment and administrative capacity is rather limited despite some progress recently. Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified Paris Agreement in March 2017. The Climate Change Adaptation and Low Emission Development Strategy has been adopted by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2013. It is a significant initial step, setting the general policy course for low-emission and resilient climate development; integrating more specific policies, measures and projects into sectoral strategies; and identifying existing opportunities for adaptation and mitigation actions to attract international support. The implementation of the strategy, consistent with the EU 2030 framework on climate and energy policies, a priority for the country, has not yet started.

The main beneficiary institution of RIPAP in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.