In this issue: Commissioner Rehn’s message: EU Cares about Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Union’s support to social reform in BiH

Commission adopted a proposal International for visa free travel for citizens Donor from the Western Balkans Conferance in The could envisage a Agriculture new proposal, which would include Bosnia and Sector Herzegovina by mid-2010 if all conditions are fulfilled

he European Commission's long standing commit - ment to visa free travel for the people of the West - ern Balkans was confirmed on 15 July with the EU Financial Tadoption of a proposal for granting visa free travel to the support to BiH citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The proposal enables the citizens for the period- of these three countries to travel to the Schengen countries with the new biometric passports. The Commission's pro - 2009-2011 posal needs to be approved by the Council after having con - sulted the . "The Commission remains fully committed to support the reform process so that the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will soon be able to enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen area. If the pace of reforms is maintained and if all the conditions are fulfilled, the Commission could Launching of envisage making a new proposal, which would include Bosnia and Herzegovina, by mid-2010. The speed of your Trebinje and country's progress towards visa–free travel is in your own leaders' hands," says the message by Jacques Barrot, Vice Prijedor President of the European Commission and Commissioner Business for Justice, Freedom and Security, and , Enlarge - ment Commissioner, to the citizens of the Western Balkan Incubators countries. EU NEWSLETTER page 2 2009 No. 3

A summary of the speech by Olli Rehn, EU Enlargement Commissioner, adressed to BiH Parliamentary Assembly, end July 2009 hen I visited Bosnia The EU will increase its tional blue-print, but the EU has plant and support to small and and Herzegovina at presence greatly, and we will twoconditions that are set in stone medium-sized enterprises. the end of last year, I sharpen our tools to help BiH foranycountrythatwantstojoin:it Joining the EU will take time, Wsaid that the year 2009 would progress towards Europe – and must be able to enforce the EU`s several years. But if the history of offer new opportunities. These deal with those who obstruct it. rulesthroughoutthecountry,andit the European Union and its en- chances are still here. TheEuropeanCommissionand must be able to speak with one largementtellsusanythingitisthat The EU wants all the people theEUSR`sOfficewillbecomeone. voiceinEUandinternationalaffairs. the journey is worth travelling and of the Western Balkans to travel ItwillinfactbethelargestEUoffice NeedIsaythatthecurrentsituation that the destination of EU mem- freely in Europe. Wehave set the anywhere in the world. Moreover,I whereBiHpresidents,ministersand bershipistheultimateguaranteeof same conditions for visa libera- andJavierSolanabothinsistthatother officialstravelabroadpresentingdif- lasting peace and social progress. tion for each country concerned. members of the international com- ferent,sometimesconflicting,posi- In closing, allow me a personal No-one got any short-cuts or munitymustbepartof thisofficetoo. tionsisutterlyimpossible? reflection. No matter how much preferential treatment. EUFOR and the EUPM will The EU accession process welongforabetterfuture,thepast I welcome the Action Plan stay,and the EU will not tolerate will entail a number of other re- lives in our minds and our souls. I adopted by the Council of Minis- any challenge to the sovereignty forms as well: Institutions that was in Srebrenica on the 11th of ters to complete the remaining re- and territorial integrity of need to be created at the state- July 2005, ten years after the geno- quirements, and the efforts made cide.Nowordscanfullycapturethe by this Parliament as well. enormityof thecrimescommitted, What Bosnia and Herzegov- or the abyss of grief left behind. ina still needs to do is not diffi- The daywill markmeforlife. cult; it just has to be done. Above The EU has named the 11th all, biometric passports must be of July the Day of Commemora- introduced on a wide scale, and tion of the Srebrenica Genocide. measures taken to protect them Weknow from our own histories against fraud and corruption. that remembrance is as necessary In parallel, Bosnia and Herze- as it is painful. It is necessary not govina must step up its fight least to counter the “selective re- against organized crime and cor- membrance”of thosewhoremain ruption,itmustimproveitsborder in denial – until this day – about controls,and it still needs to d a lot whatreallytookplace,bothinSre- betteronpolicereform,something brenica and in many other towns the EU has insisted on for years! and villages across this country. Wesent a detailed list of these All those who are indicted for requirements to your Ministry of war crimes must face their day in Security.Itciteseverynewlawtobe court and pay for the crimes they passed,everyexistinglawtobeim- committed. plemented better, and every other In addition to the justice of the problemthatmustbefixed–nearly courts,thereisasecondandequally 50 actions in total. Wehaveinvited lasting form of justice that we can yourgovernmenttoreportbackto Olli Rehn offerforthevictims:abetterfuture usbythe1stof Octoberthis year. for their loved ones who survived. Another opportunity that Bosnia and Herzegovina. level, competencies that have to Thisiswhatthemenandboyswho Bosnia and Herzegovina should This leads me to constitu- be clarified between different died at Srebrenica, and victims not miss this year is the transition tional reform. levels of government, and steps everywhere,wouldhavewantedfor from Dayton stabilisation to Eu- Constitutional reform is not required for fiscal sustainability. theirfamilies. ropean integration. By this I mean a precondition for OHR closure. There is no miracle cure. And this is what the EU wants the closure of the OHR, once the Nor is it required to apply for Everyone in Europe is struggling for Bosnia and Herzegovina too. conditionshavebeenmet,andthe EU membership. But constitu- with the same problems. But this Joining the EU will take time, start of a new chapter where EU tional reform is a necessary part is my message: the EU cares several years. But if the history of membership takes centre-stage. of the EU accession process. about Bosnia and Herzegovina. the European Union and its en- If you meet the conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina will Wesetasidenearly€40millionfor largementtellsusanything,itisthat OHR closure this autumn, and if not be able to join to EU with Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part the journey is worth traveling and EU-relatedreformspickupspeed, its present constitution. It is that of EU`s own economic crisis re- that the destination of EU mem- then the objective of starting EU simple. In fact, we will not even sponsepackage,togetherwiththe bershipistheultimateguaranteeof accession negotiations could be- be able to grant candidate status €440 million we had already lasting peace and social progress. come real in the coming years. without certain reforms. planned for BiH until 2011. We cannot travel the road to The closure of the OHR, The EU is ready to help BiH This money will be spent theEUforBosniaandHerzegov- whenthedaycomes,willnotmark find a constitutional model that on investments that create jobs ina. But we can help, we will help, a loss of interest by the interna- is acceptable to all and delivers quickly and inject money into and we want this country to suc- tional community. Quite to the a functional and effective state. the economy, such as the con- ceed in its journey from era of contrary. We may not have a constitu- struction of a hydro-power Dayton to the era of Europe. EU NEWSLETTER page 3 2009 No. 3

Once BiH becomes the EU member, your citizens living and working in the EU countries shall have equal treatment and employment opportunities in all the EU countries, stressed Dimitris Kourkoulas at the Seminar on EU Social Protection and Social Inclusion ocial policy is an area izens living and working in the of the Directorate for Eco- andEqualOpportunitiesDepart- where citizens can directly EU countries shall have equal nomic Planning, BiH Council mentsayedthatEUdonothavea see the benefits of Euro- treatment and employment op- of Ministers, emphasised that uniform European social model. Spean integration, said Ambassa- “But we have set common goals. dor Dimitris Kourkoulas, Head With the Treaty of Lisbon we of European Commission Del- want to achieve full employ- egation to Bosnia and Herze- ment; we want to fight against govina at the “Seminar on EU poverty and social exclusion; we Social Protection and Social In- want to promote social inclu- clusion”, held on 2 June 2009 in sion. All of these are the goals Sarajevo. The Seminar was or- defined at the European Union ganised by TAIEX (Technical level. The European Union in- Assistance and Information Ex- stitutions have no specific ways change - an instrument of the to promote how to achieve all of Directorate-General Enlarge- this. The Treaty on European ment of the European Com- Union clearly stipulates that all mission that helps countries with the Member States are responsi- regard to the approximation, ap- Dimitris Kourkoulas ble for organising social policy plication and enforcement of schemes organised in their re- EU legislation), together with portunities in all the EU coun- DEP was working on two spective countries. Therefore, it the DG Employment, Social tries. It will increase the mobility strategies: the Development is clear that we in the Union Affairs and Equal Opportunities within the EU and strengthen Strategy and Social Inclusion want to have member countries and Directorate for Economic the rights the citizens are entitled Strategy. with good social policy systems. Planning of BiH Council of to in the field of social security. “The goal of this Seminar is I think that you in BiH have to Ministers (DEP). These are the advantages BiH to obtain information from the accept the fact that the EU shall The overall objective of the shall have once it joins the EU”, institutionsonthestateof playof not tell you, or any other coun- Seminar was to inform civil ser- said Kourkoulas. the Strategy,while the European try, which model is adequate to vants from the public adminis- He stressed that a lack of re- Commission will let us know be implemented in your country. tration, the representatives of liable statistical data was a big what needs to be done in order We are ready to help with these national and local authorities, problem in BiH and without to become a candidate country. processes and should any coun- social security institutions, social such data, no social policy could We hope that the EC shall con- try obtain the member status, service providers and NGOs be developed. The statistics tinue to support us, as it has been there are certain processes that about the EU social protection planned to be completed in doing through numerous pro- the country needs to undergo in and social inclusion process. 2011 should be used for the cre- grams“, said Ms. Marić. terms of being informed on the “Once your country be- ation of future social policy. Mr. George Fischer, Head of policies to be implemented“, ex- comes the EU member, your cit- Ms. Ljerka Marić, Director DG Employment, Social Affairs plained Fischer. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs social security system reforms The high-level meeting on social security co-ordination, organised in Sarajevo as a part of the joint programme of the European Commission and Council of Europe, is being con- ducted in the framework of the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession. “BosniaandHerzegovinaneedsa Thehigh-levelmeetingonsocial rational social framework, and the security co-ordination was organ- EuropeanCommissionisprovid- ised as part of a joint programme ing support that will help trans- of theEuropeanCommissionand form policy decisions in this field theCouncilof Europe,“SocialSe- into actual reforms,” stated Johan curityCo-ordinationandSocialSe- Hesse, Head of Operations Sec- curity Reforms”, which is being tion for Economic Reform and conductedintheframeworkof the Natural Resources at the Euro- EUInstrumentforPre-Accession. pean Commission Delegation to Speaking at the start of the Caroline Ravaud i Johan Hesse Bosnia and Herzegovina, at a conference, Caroline Ravaud, the high-levelmeetingonSocialSecu- Special Representative of the Theconferencewasattendedby Switzerland. The joint programme rity Coordination which took Council of Europe’s Secretary- representativesof theauthoritiesof of theEuropeanCommissionand placeinSarajevoon19June2009. GeneralinBosniaandHerzegov- Bosnia and Herzegovina, the the Council of Europe “Social Se- “Wewouldliketoshowthefu- ina, expressed the hope that the Councilof EuropeinBiH,theEu- curityCo-ordinationandSocialSe- ture EU member states that good meeting would help participants ropeanCommissionDelegationto curityReforms”isdesignedforthe Europeansocialpolicymeansgood familiarise themselves with best BiH, and experts on social security Western Balkan countries and economicpolicyaswell”, hesaid. practiceinthesocialsecurityfield. co-ordination from Germany and Turkey. EU NEWSLETTER page 4 2009 No. 3

griculture Donor Confer- Mladen Zirojević, the BH Minis- ence for BiH, organised ter of Foreign Trade and Eco- by the BiH Ministry of nomic Relations, who opened AForeign Trade and Economic Conference, said that the inten- Relations in cooperation with tion was to establish an efficient the Delegation of European coordination between donors Commission to BiH on 17 June and the BiH Government, and 2009 in Sarajevo, aimed to show- to develop a future programme case the projects which were pre- of financial assistance in agricul- pared by the interested parties in ture, directly linked to the BiH the areas of agriculture, process- Strategic Plan for Harmoniza- ing and rural development, in tion of Agriculture, Food and coordination with the relevant Rural Development), adopted by ministries of the state, entities, the BiH Council of Ministers in and Brčko District, as well as co- 2008. operative associations in BiH. Johann Hesse, Head of the

Mladen Zirojević and Johann Hesse Operations Section for Eco- The Annual Report 2008 on nomic Reform and Natural Re- the situation in the fields of agri- sources in the Delegation of culture, food and rural develop- European Commission to BiH, ment in BiH was presented at addressed the participants of the the Conference. “Priorities in the Agriculture Donor Conference. upcoming period are closely re- Mr. Hesse pointed out the sig- lated to the EU Accession nificance of this Conference, process, primarily to the fulfill- particularly with respect to the ment of all the obligations aris- funds provided by the EU ing from the Stabilisation and through the European Union In- Association Agreement,” read strument for Pre-Accession As- the Report’s foreword , written sistance (IPA) for institutional by Mladen Zirojević, the BH Donor Conference in Sarajevo development of BH agricultural Minister of Foreign Trade and sector. Economic Relations.

he end of implementa- management and designing tion of the second Twin- strategies in human resources ning assistance project planning and development. The Tof the BiH Border Police and partners supporting this project the Hungarian State Police was were Finland Toll, the Polish marked at the HQ of the BiH Border Police, the United King- Border Police in Sarajevo on 30 dom Home Office and EU- June 2009. The Twinning proj- ROPOL. ect lasted for 14 months during Ferdinand Kopp, Head of which the partners worked to- the Operations Section for Jus- gether toward enhancing the tice, Home Affairs and Reform BiH Border Police capacities in of Public Administration at the the areas of investigations, in- Delegation of the European telligence, effective information Commission to BiH, said that

From the meeting in Sarajevo this was part of a wider assis- Vinko Dumancic, the Direc- tance of the EU in support to tor of BiH Border Police, ex- strengthening of the BiH Bor- plained that the result of joint der Police, under the EU’s Jus- work between the BiH Border tice and Home Affairs Police and the Hungarian Bor- Programme. The aim was to der Police in this project was contribute to the security and development of the general stability of BiH by enhancing Border Police Strategy for the performance and efficiency of period from 2010 to 2014, as the BiH Border Police forces, well as two other strategies for particularly in fighting organ- information management and ized cross-border crime, human resources development through knowledge, experience in the field of criminal intelli- Vinko Dumančić and Ferdinand Kopp and police practice. gence and investigations. EU NEWSLETTER page 5 2009 No. 3

ithin the project “Estab- nance projects that promote eco- lishment of the Regional nomic growth across BiH. The total Entrepreneurship Centre amount of the projects financed so inW Herzegovina” which was fi- far is 60, ranging in value from nanced by the EU,a new facility has €25,000 to €300,000, which comes been established in Trebinje as part to a total of more than €10 million. of the Business Incubators in BiH Smallandmediumenterprisesare programme. The project value is the main generators of business in €337,120 out of which EU pro- BiHanditisnecessarytotakeallpos- vided 88% of the total amount. The sible measures to support the exist- project was implemented by the ing companies and encourage the Mostar Business Association LiNK establishment of new ones. Further in cooperation with the partners and support by the government is also co-financers, the municipalities of necessary on all levels in order to Trebinje and Jablanica. loosen administrative obligations for The Business Incubator will be companiesandreducetherestrictions Boris Iarochevitch and Dobroslav Ćuk used by recently registered compa- that make establishment of busi- Dr. Ćuk said that the services tion LiNK Mostar, Tomislav Majić nies or by people who intend to nesses more difficult, Iarochevitch that the business incubator will pro- said they managed to fulfil three of start a private business. In the con- said. He added that the second im- vide will be diverse and available four goals in the implementation of text of the current financial crisis portant achievement of this project under very good conditions: in ob- this project. All infrastructural and in times when it is hard to get a is fostering a network of incubators taining business premises under the preparations have been made, for loan, the key goal of this incubator inHerzegovinaandworkingtogether best possible conditions, in provid- the accomplishment of the fourth is to support small and medium en- on,whatshouldideallyberecognised ing assistance in the selection and goal of the project, which is the terprises, especially start-up compa- as a single economic space. analysis of business ideas, registra- opening of the regional entrepre- nies by reducing initial costs of The Mayor of Trebinje Mu- tion and partnerships, in linking po- neurship centre in Mostar, but in setting up a business. nicipality, Dr. Dobroslav Ćuk, tential business partners and in agreement with EC the centre will The Head of Operations in the listed the main data of this project facilitating business initiatives. The not be opened until September this Delegation of the European Com- in the municipality, emphasising business incubator will offer possi- year. It is also important to note that mission to BiH, Boris Iarochevitch, that for the purpose of this proj- bilities for development of new public announcement for allocation speaking at the opening Ceremony, ect, a facility with 15 business areas businesses and application of mod- of the business incubator was pub- noted that the EU fund for regional had been reconstructed and ern technology,as well as new busi- lished on 12 May 2009 and will re- economic development000000, adapted. The facility takes up 570 ness, technical, organisational and main open until all premises are which financed this project, was square meters and is equipped marketing structures and methods. taken. founded in 2003 with the aim to fi- with the necessary infrastructure. The President of the Associa-

by the Prijedor Municipality Eco- also by providing services to reconstruction of the two facilities nomic Development Agency other companies and thus be- also included the provision of util- (PREDA-PD) and supported by coming even more competitive. ities – water supply, sewerage and local development agencies from Hesse pointed out that the EC telecommunications networks, as Novi Grad/Bosanski Novi and supported the project in order to well as the access road. Kozarska/Bosanska Dubica. Ac- help the private sector to create “The purpose of the Entre- tive involvement of municipali- more jobs. He said that the En- preneurial Incubator is to ac- ties in the region as project trepreneurial Incubator definitely commodate start-up businesses partners contributed to the sus- could not resolve all problems of for a period of up to five years. wo facilities within the tainability of the project, the pro- the local entrepreneurs. However, After that, they are expected to project “Development of motion of entrepreneurship and he added that the possibility of move to industrial zones, thus Entrepreneurial Incubator economic development, as well accommodating manufacturing making room for new busi- Prijedor“T were officially opened as to the creation of new jobs. facilities in reconstructed prem- nesses“, Vujašin stressed. on 22 June 2009 in the former Such a positive action of the ises, as well as business coun- Marko Pavić, the Mayor of military barracks Palanćište near local governments will make the selling and technical support Prijedor, said that the develop- Prijedor. This event marked the region more attractive for start- services would significantly assist ment of the Entrepreneurial In- end of the second phase of this ups and increase investments in the companies starting their busi- cubator was a step forward in project, financed by the Euro- the region, both local and for- ness in these facilities. reducing unemployment - the pean Union and Prijedor munici- eign. “I hope that this Entrepre- main challenge this local com- pality. Johann Hesse, Head of Op- neurial Incubator will serve its munity was facing. The total value of the project is erations Section for Economic purpose and enable, at the time €280,979, out of which the Euro- Development and Natural Re- of the economic crisis, the private pean Union provided €248,892, sources with the Delegation of sector to function normally and while the share of Prijedor munic- the European Commission to increase its income,“ Hesse ipality amounted to €32,087. The BiH, expressed his satisfaction stressed. reconstruction of these two facili- with the successful completion Branislav Vujašin, Project ties within the Entrepreneurial In- of the second phase of this proj- Manager for the construction of cubator, which cover the total ect and underlined that the incu- the Entrepreneurial Incubator Pri- surface area of 688 square meters, bators were going to play an jedor thanked the Delegation of has provided business premises for important role in the develop- European Commission in BiH for five manufacturing companies, thus ment and operation of SMEs in financially supporting the comple- creating 20 new jobs. this region, not only by reducing tion of the second phase of this The project was implemented start-up costs for businesses, but project, which, in addition to the Johann Hesse EU NEWSLETTER page 6 2009 No. 3

News from EU The Swedish Presidency of the EU s of 1 July 2009, the whole world to tackle climate adopt an EU strategy for the Swedish Presidency change. These two priorities Baltic Sea region, in order to of the EU was The European Health Insurance launched. Now Sweden is in Card (EHIC) – now held by 180 A the driving seat of the million Europeans – celebrated world’s largest integrated its fifth birthday in July. Citizens economy with nearly half a from 31 European countries can billion citizens. “It’s going to use the card to get the medical care they need if they fall ill or be a very exciting six months, have an accident in one of the but the task before us is not participating countries (the EU, an easy one. I’m looking for- Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland ward to tackling the autumn’s and Switzerland). The EHIC challenges together,” said covers all health care which is Sweden’s Prime Minister needed during a temporary stay Fredrik Reinfeldt, on the eve in one of the 31 participating of the handover. countries, be it for travel, work Until the end of the year or studies. The card was intro- it will be Sweden’s task to duced progressively between June 2004 and December 2005 drive the EU’s work forward. to replace the previous paper “The most important thing will dominate our Presi- deal with environmental form called the “E111”, and is is to ensure that we are able dency”, Fredrik Reinfeldt problems and increase the re- now held by 180 million citizens, to gather the EU together to added. gion’s competitiveness, along or 35% of Europeans. However, respond to the challenges But there are also other with continuing the work to there are significant differences that people care about and important issues Sweden in- form closer ties between the between countries: in Italy, Aus- where strong European co- tends to pursue during its EU and its neighbouring tria, the Czech Republic and operation can make a differ- Presidency. One is the devel- countries, and EU enlarge- Switzerland, almost the entire ence. This is a matter of opment and strengthening of ment. The Swedish Presi- population has an EHIC, while dealing with the financial cri- EU cooperation on justice dency will also work to in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, sis together and tackling the and home affairs in the strengthen the EU’s role as a Poland and Spain, less than 5% has one. rising unemployment that is Stockholm Programme, in global actor with a clear currently affecting the whole order to be in a better posi- agenda for peace, develop- of Europe. It is also matter tion to fight cross-border ment, democracy and human of doing our bit to rally the crime. Another task is to rights.

The EU's main regulator has approved state aid to banks 10,000 Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for worth almost a third of the 27- member bloc's GDP. Accord- 2009-2010 ing to a review published by the European Commission on students and academics from all search or tutoring activities Monday (10 August), between over the world will receive schol- within one of the Erasmus last October and mid-July 2009, arships to study or teach in one Mundus Masters Courses. the EU's executive approved of the 103 Erasmus Mundus The scholarship-winners guarantee measures designed to Masters Courses. These courses come from 105 countries: China boost lenders' confidence are provided by consortia of Eu- is the most-represented country, worth €2.9 trillion and capital he European Commis- rope’stop higher education insti- followed by India, Brazil, Mex- injections for struggling banks sion has awarded almost tutions, and lead to the award of ico, Bangladesh, the US, which amounted to €313 bil- 10,000 new grants to be a recognised double/multiple or Ethiopia, Russia and Indonesia. lion. Tfunded by the Erasmus Mundus joint Masters Degree. The academics come from 75 In its June report, Brussels programme in the academic year The courses and the scholar- countries; the best represented in predicted that public aid to the 2009-2010. Thanks to this, 8,385 ships together meet the overall this category are the US, China, banking sector would cost Eu- students and academics will objectives of Erasmus Mundus India, Australia and Canada.Ten rope up to 16.5 percent of come to study or teach in Eu- to enhance the quality of Euro- students from BiH were awarded GDP . Ireland, one of the EU rope, and 1,561 Europeans will pean higher education and pro- the Mundus Erasmus pro- countries most hit by the finan- spend periods at partner institu- mote it around the world. gramme scholarships. There are cial clampdown, received a tions in countries outside Eu- Starting in the academic year different groups of countries green light from Brussels for rope. Erasmus Mundus is a 2009-2010, 1,833 students are (Lots) for the respective world aid representing 231.8 percent co-operation and mobility pro- being awarded scholarships to regions and there is a consortium of its GDP and banks have gramme in the field of higher study for one or two years at the established for each of them. taken up almost the whole education that aims to enhance Masters course of their choice, Students, researchers and staff package. In contrast, nine states the quality of European higher alongside students from Europe. from these regions can apply to - Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech education and to promote dia- Students follow these Erasmus the respective consortium for Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, logue and understanding be- Mundus courses at two or more scholarship. Bosnia and Herze- Malta, Poland, Romania and tween people and cultures universities within the Masters govina is grouped in Lot 10, to- Slovakia - have not applied for through co-operation with consortium. 489 academics with gether with Albania, Macedonia, permission to use public funds countries outside the European outstanding academic track Montenegro,Serbia and Kosovo, for such purposes. Union. records will come to Europe for sharing the budget of € 8.5 mil- In 2009, a new selection of shorter periods of teaching, re- lion. EU NEWSLETTER page 7 2009 No. 3 European Commission adopts a Multi-annual News from EU Indicative Planning Document for Bosnia and Agreement on Standardised EU Herzegovina for the years 2009-2011 Phone Charger For the period 2009-2011, the overall indicative amount of the EU The world's ten major mobile phone manufacturers have agreed to pro- financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina – in the form of duce a harmonised charger for users grants from the Community budget - is 303.2 EUR million acrossEurope.Thephonemanufac- turers Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, he Multi-annual Indica- tional reform process as well as and a regulatory framework Nokia, Qualcomm, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Research in Motion (the tive Planning Docu- the media and civil society in compatible with European producer of the blackberry), and ment – MIPD for the order to contribute to the dem- standards. IPA will support the Texas Instruments submitted a yearsT 2009-2011 defines that fi- ocratic stabilisation and the so- implementation and enforce- memorandum of understanding to nancial assistance to Bosnia cial and economic ment of the sectoral policies the Commission. At the moment, and Herzegovina aims to sup- development of the country. and the preparation for IPA therearemorethan30differenttypes port the country in three main IPA will also put emphasis on components III, IV and V. of chargers for phones across Eu- areas, namely political reform the protection of the cultural Through component II, IPA rope. Making the situation worse, and building up of democratic heritage in the context of the will support cross-border co- anyone who wants to change their institutions, economic reform, “Ljubljana Process”. operation by supporting joint mobile phone needs to throw away and ability to assume the obli- The second economic devel- projects at the borders with the old charger as well. Under the gations of membership - ap- opment sub-component will Croatia, Montenegro and Ser- fresh agreement, a universal charger, which will use a mini-USB connec- proximation to European focus on support the establish- bia and with EU Member tion, should be made available from standards in the internal mar- 2010. ket, sectoral policies, justice, freedom and security. A special EU´s Top Ten for component of the programme Passengers will finance cross-border coop-  Intheeventof anaccident,calltoll- eration. freeEuropeanemergencynumber112, For the period 2009-2011, the whichcoversthewholeterritoryof the overall indicative amount of the EU..  Keep in mind that one out of four EU financial assistance to roadaccidentscanbeattributedtoex- Bosnia and Herzegovina – in cessive alcohol or drug consumption. the form of grants from the  Check the black list of airlines Community budget - is 303.2 banned in the EU. EUR million. The main share  When you check in at the airport, of the budget is allocated to only take small quantities of liquids in support activities under IPA your hand luggage (a maximum of Component I for Transition As- 100 millilitres is permitted per con- sistance and Institution Building ment of regulatory capacity States and other Western tainer).Thetotalamountof liquidsper (EUR 287.3 million). A smaller and the enhancement of the Balkan Countries (Albania, person cannot exceed one litre.  If your flight is cancelled without share will be allocated to IPA entrepreneurial know-how. It Croatia, Montenegro and Ser- notice or if you are denied boarding, Component II for Cross-Bor- will support the development bia) through the IPA CBC ask for reimbursement or rerouting. der Cooperation activities (15.9 of the SME sector, the eco- Adriatic Programme and by  If youaredeniedboardingbecause EUR million). nomic development of the re- supporting Bosnia and Herze- youaresuspectedtohaveInfluenzaA To ensure the maximum effi- gions and will improve trade govina’s participation in joint (H1N1),beawarethatyouareentitled ciency and effectiveness of policies. Education reform and projects under the European to reimbursement or rerouting com- the EU financial assistance developing a national strategy Regional Development Fund’s binedwithmonetarycompensationif the definition of the major on research will promote the (ERDF) and transnational pro- the measure was not based on a deci- areas of intervention and the development of economy and grammes “South-East Europe” sion of a sanitary authority or on a medical certificate. type of actions to be financed society and active labour mar- (SEE) and “Mediterranean”  has been closely coordinated ket measures will assist in com- (MED). If youareanairpassengerwithdis- abilities or reduced mobility,you have with the International Finan- bating unemployment. The In order to soften the impact therighttofreeassistancebefore,dur- cial Institutions and other bi- health sector will be reformed of the financial and eco- ing and after your travel. lateral international donors, to ease the burden of public fi- nomic crisis, IPA will provide  When you book your flight ticket active in Bosnia and Herze- nances and to deliver adequate support to the financial sec- online, remember that the final price govina. health care to citizens. tor, the development of must be clearly indicated on the first In more detail, the first politi- The third sub-component will SMEs, job creation, support page. cal sub-component will focus finance actions to assist Bosnia the institution-building of  If your luggage gets lost or dam- on public administration re- and Herzegovina to cope with regulators and supervisors in aged, you have the right to a reim- form - including support for the approximation to the Eu- the financial sector, invest- bursementof upto€1,100.Youhave the customs and taxation ad- ropean acquis in the internal ments in infrastructure, onlyoneweektoclaimif yourluggage strengthening the roles of isdamagedand21daysif itisdelayed. ministration, the reform of the market, sectoral policies, jus-  When you buy a travel package, al- judiciary and of the police. The tice, freedom and security. Em- economic and financial regu- waysmakesurethatboththepriceand emphasis will be on institution phasis will be placed on the lators and cooperation with all relevant information are clearly in- building. It will support do- development and implementa- International Financial Insti- dicated. mestic efforts on the constitu- tion of strategies and policies tutions. EU NEWSLETTER page 8 2009 No. 3 thisCallforProposals,anindicativeamountof the€3,600,000,equallydi- European Union funded Multimedia vided per country,is available for cross-border cooperation project pro- posals. Priority areas on which this Call for Proposals will focus are: Centre at Zenica University encouragingcross-bordercooperationandpartnerships,encouragingjoint cross-border activities with a view to revitalizing the economy,protecting nature and the environment, and increasing social cohesion of the pro- grammingarea.TheCallforProposalswillbeopenuntil16October2009. All the details on this call are available on the following web sites: www.mrrsvg.hr, www.dei.gov.ba, www.safu.hr, www.cbc-cro-bih.net, http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/funding/index_en.htm.

Promotion of ICTY Manual on The European Union provided funds for the establishment of the Multimedia Centre (MMC), which was opened at the University of Developed Zenica on 22 June 2009. The EU funding was made available Practices through the TEMPUS program (Trans-European Mobility Scheme TheManualof BestPracticebytheInter- for University Studies). nationalCriminalTribunalfortheformer The MMC was established as part of the EU funded project Yugoslavia(ICTY),producedthroughco- “Centre for entrepreneurship and innovation at Zenica University”. operation between The United Nations This project was also supported by the Netherlands Ministry of For- Interregional Crime and Justice Research eign Affairs, through the University Business Incubator. The main Institute(UNICRI)andtheHagueTribu- goals of the MMC project are to create a centre of entrepreneurship nal, was publicly presented at a regional and innovation at the University of Zenica, to train trainers, to create conferenceon“PromotingtheLegacyof InternationalTribunals”,heldon workshops in future technology and practices, to provide consulting 15JuneinSarajevo..TheManualisthefirstpublicationtoprovideacompre- services to enterprises,and to spread knowledge and expertise that will hensivedescriptionof themostefficientandinnovativepracticesdevelopedby contribute to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economic development. theHagueTribunalsinceitsestablishment.Addressingtheparticipants,Ferdi- nandKopp,Head of the Operations Section for Justice, Home Affairs and Reform of Public Administration at the Delegation of the European Com- mission to BiH saidthattheEUaccessionbytheWesternBalkancountries Newpublicationtranslated:IPA - wouldonlybepossibleif theyfullyconfrontedtherecenttragicevents,found InstrumentforPre-Accession–Anew warcriminalsandbroughtthemtojustice. focustoEUassistance Kids Festival 2009 Theforenlargement Delegation of the European Commis- Under the motto "All different – all equal", the 6th Kids Festi- sion to BiH has published a translation of val took place in Sarajevo from 12 to 17 June 2009. The Festi- the brochure entitled "IPA- Instrument for val gathered around 40.000 children from all parts of BiH, of Pre-Accession Assistance - A New Focus to different cultural and geographical backgrounds, to enjoy a the EU Assistance for Enlargement". This week of movies, educational and entertainment workshops and publication offers a snapshot of what IPA various performances. At the opening ceremony, Mr Constan- is, why it has been created, how it operates, tino Longarres Bario, Head of Operations Section for Democ- and how it benefits both the EU and the racy and Social Development at the EC Delegation to BiH, countries currently seeking to join it. It is available on the EC Dele- stressed that the Festival helped overcoming isolation of chil- gation's web page: www.europa.ba and in EU Info Centres in Sara- dren in BiH by building entity-crossing networks and strength- jevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Tuzla and Brcko. ening mutual understanding among different ethnic groups. The children of BiH are vital to ensuring that the country has a healthy future, looking forward rather than backwards. The European Union provided 100.000 € for this largest and most Supporttothecross-bordercooperation ambitious event for children and youth in the entire Balkan re-

DelegationbetweenBHandCroatia of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina andMinistryof RegionalDevelopment,ForestryandWaterManagement of the Republic of Croatia, in cooperation with the Directorate for Eu- ropeanIntegrationof BosniaandHerzegovinaareseekinggrantpropos- alsforcross-borderactivities(financialassistancefromthe2007and2008 allocations).Encouragingcross-bordercooperationandpartnershipscre- ation activities are the key elements of the Component II (Cross-border Cooperation)of theInstrumentforPre-accessionAssistance(IPA).Under Produced by: BORAM, Editor: Danka Savić, Lead photographer: Jasmin Fazlagić, Editing and printed by: LH Print and CPU

Delegation of the European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Skenderija 3a, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tel: +387 33 254 700

European union home page: www.europa.eu The EU’s actions in BiH web page: http://ec.europa.eu./comm/enlargement/bosnia_herzegovina/index.htm European Commission Delegation to BiH: www.europa.ba

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