An opening conference marked the official commencement of the EU-funded project ‘Strengthening anti-corruption capacities and CSO networks in the area’ held April 25th in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conference was opened by Mr. Holger Schroeder, head of cooperation at the EU Delegation in Bosnia & Herzegovina. “Today’s conference marks the beginning of a very important project in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fight against corruption. Through the project, collaboration is planned between the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Anti-Corruption and other institutions that have a mandate to fight corruption” – said Schroeder. He further explained that this project will help in the development of new, updated strategy and action plan, in close cooperation with civil society organizations, and it will provide and support the implementation of these strategies. The project is part of wider EU efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, the support towards better accountability and transparency, improved public finance management, and the support to civil society organizations in their work in this area. “The project also goes hand in hand with the dialogue at a high political level, and is part of the expanded structural dialogue in the field of Justice, where it was agreed that this area is included in a broader context in the area of the rule of law” added Schroeder.

Mr. Sead Lisak, Director of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Anti-Corruption of Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointed out that “Bosnia & Herzegovina must choose the path of unreserved fight against corruption, because it is the only right way”. He continued to say that this project will, amongst other activities, try to formulate the draft strategy for the fight against corruption, which will define the work plan for the next five years, and concluded “Bosnia & Herzegovina needs a modern, engaged, and above all a bold strategy to combat corruption.”

The project will provide technical assistance to the Agency for prevention of corruption and coordination in the fight against corruption, main institutions mandated to combat and prevent corruption at state, entity and Brcko district level as well as to the recipients of the EU grants from IPA 2010 for fighting corruption and civil society organizations active in the fight against corruption. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the fight against corruption and to effective corruption prevention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Furthermore, this project should support the institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to effectively implement the Anticorruption strategies and Action plans in cooperation with Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and business associations.

‘Strengthening anti-corruption capacities and CSO networks in the area’ (EuropeAid/134130/C/SER/BA) is funded by the EU with Eur 444.480 and implemented from January 2015 until January 2016 by the ECG-led Consortium, alongside partners DBB Akademie (Germany), Sequa GmbH (Germany) and Centre for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria).