A strong civil society in BiH is an EU priority - building democracy from grass-roots level, to eradicate discrimination, reconcile ethnic tensions and improve human and civil rights, is critical to fulfilling the Copenhagen political criteria for EU Membership.

Return of Refugees

The right to return was enshrined in Annex 7 of the DPA and the EU invested vast resources and efforts to support the process. Since the immediate post-war period, the EU has funded a comprehensive housing reconstruction programme covering all parts of the country - in which some 40,000 houses were rebuilt - and also supported efforts to ensure that rightful occupiers of property could regain possession of their homes. The EU funded a substantial part of the costs of the Commission for Real Property Claims (CRPC), which was created under the DPA to deal with the claims of dispossessed refugees and displaced persons.

The approach taken by the EU was integrated, with housing reconstruction going hand in hand with rebuilding health centres and schools and the revival of small businesses. For return to be sustainable, people need schools, health care, social security and, above all, jobs.

Although the EU devoted almost €408 million to housing reconstruction under its return programme since 1996, reconstruction grants were never enough for all the families wishing to return. In the framework of the multi-donor refinancing fund which operates in collaboration with BiH commercial banks, the EU set up a housing loan programme which has provided almost 5,000 housing credits.

Related documents:

• Functional Review of the Return Sector in BiH (8.82 MB .pdf)

Civil Society Development

Democracy means empowering the people to voice their concerns and the EU has provided significant support to the development of civil society in BiH. Major aspects include the capacity building of civil society organizations, development of advocacy skills, support to NGOs in monitoring government policies and enhancing minority participation in local government. In addition, the EU has provided support to youth organisations or organisations which work with the disabled, elderly people and those which promote gender equality. Protection of children’s right to education and non-discrimination of children with special needs, full implementation of the Freedom of Access to Information Act in BiH, are other areas where the EU is providing support.

Related Documents:

• Youth in Action (78 KB .pdf)
• Analysis of Institutional Cooperation between Governmental and Non-Governmental Sectors in BiH (554 KB .pdf)

Human Rights and Social Cohesion

Macro and Micro-projects that promote the rule of law, respect for human rights, protection of minorities and political pluralism are funded through the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and implemented by international and local partners. Some are countrywide, such as the Corruption Perception Study and Corruption Hotline, which included sociological, psychological and economic analyses on the subject and resulted in the creation of the first dedicated countrywide database. It allowed citizens not only to assess the extent to which corruption has taken root in society but also to propose effective measures to fight it. Other projects are community based, such as efforts to promote the inclusion of Roma citizens in specific municipalities. The dissemination of key Democracy and Human Rights messages has often been supported, such as advocacy videos against racism and xenophobia. Since 2001, fifty-two micro-projects - worth a total of almost € 3 million - have been funded, with another € 1.4 million forthcoming, while over € 8 million have been allocated to macro-projects since 2002. Funding from the EIDHR is independent from the CARDS or other national allocation.

Education

Since 1996, BiH has participated in the TEMPUS inter-university co-operation programme and the EU and Council of Europe are assisting BiH universities in the implementation of the Bologna Process, an initiative in which the governments of forty countries in Europe and beyond are co-operating to streamline their university study courses, to make them compatible with one another.

Reform of the education sector is part of the European Partnership and is followed closely by those responsible for BiH’s process for EU integration, although education reform has never been part of any other negotiation process. This is because many believe that the current status of education in BiH represents a violation of human rights and a lack of fulfilment of international obligations.

Among the EU-funded Functional Reviews was a review of the education sector and support is now provided for the implementation of its recommendations, through technical assistance. In July 2006, the EC and the Ministers of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to co-operate and further develop joint efforts, so as to establish an efficient and functional “architecture” of an education system, with a clear definition of mechanisms for co-operation and a well-defined decision-making process.

EU support has launched a reform of Vocational Educational Training (VET), through institution building, staff and curriculum development, teacher training and partnerships with EU schools. The emphasis is on bringing VET closer to the labour market.

The EU has provided over € 16 million to support this sector through the Obnova, PHARE and CARDS programmes.

Related documents:

• Models for Mother Tongue and Mathematics Syllabi (2.67 MB .pdf)
• Draft School Development Guidelines (2.91 MB .pdf)
• Framework Matura (440 KB .pdf)
• Model Framework Curriculum (335 KB .pdf)
• Education Sector in BiH - Final Report (869 KB .pdf)
• Education Sector in BiH - I Legislative annex (390 KB .pdf)
• Education Sector in BiH - II Statistical annex (375 KB .pdf)
• Education Sector in BiH - III Institutional Profiles (404 KB .pdf)
• Education Sector in BiH - IV Education Strategies (422 KB .pdf)
• The Jean Monnet Programme (27 KB .pdf)

Health

A functional review of the health sector was conducted and implementation of its recommendations is ongoing. EU-funded support includes technical assistance for health care reform, encompassing health financing, development and implementation of the family medicine concept in primary heath care and quality assurance and accreditation in the health sector. Assistance has also been provided for the pharmaceutical sector.

The Public and Environmental Health Programme supported the development of strategic and business plans for the reform of public health and the development of an integrated public health plan. In total, almost € 10 million have been invested by the EU in this sector.

Related documents:

• Functional Review of the Health Sector in BiH - Final Report (1.34 MB .pdf)
• Functional Review of the Health Sector in BiH - State Level (149 KB .pdf)
• Functional Review of the Health Sector in BiH - FBiH (192 KB .pdf)
• Functional Review of the Health Sector in BiH - RS (183 KB .pdf)
• Functional Review of the Health Sector in BiH - DB (210 KB .pdf)
• Functional Review of the Health Sector in BiH - Benchmarks (294 KB .pdf)

De-mining

Millions of mines and unexploded ordonances left over from the war hampered refugee return, freedom of movement and economic development. Since 1996, the EU has provided almost €22 million under the OBNOVA, CARDS and Anti Personnel Landmines (APL) programmes, to fund de-mining operations, procurement of equipment and capacity building.

The EU is currently financing the 8th Phase of its de-mining programme with the Civil Protection Agencies (CPAs), with over 80% co-financing from the entity governments. These grants cover 2006, after which activities will be fully funded from the entity budgets, as foreseen in the 2003 Exit Strategy agreed between the EC and BiH. This ensures the sustainability of the de-mining capacity built through EU support. The strategy foresaw a gradual decrease in EU funding for both CPAs until 2006, which would be met by increased financial contributions from the Entity Governments.

For 2006-2008, an additional € 3 million has been allocated to BiH under the APL Budget Line. A recent Call for Proposals earmarks € 1.7 million for physical de-mining, technical surveys and assistance to mine victims, with another € 1.3 million foreseen.

Media

Reform and development of public media in BiH is a key priority for the EU and reform of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) remains an outstanding Feasibility Study priority. The EU is supporting the establishment of single, professional, efficient, self-sustainable PBS, and has invested over € 2,5 million to this effect, including the procurement of technical equipment such as transmitters, IT hardware and software and production equipment. Specific projects, such as production and broadcasting of news in sign language for people with hearing impairments, have also been funded.

Expert assistance from leading European media companies helps improve management, editorial and production practices and will continue until the above-mentioned goals are reached.

The EU is providing support to the BiH Communication Regulatory Agency, consisting of technical equipment and expert assistance, through a twinning project.

Labour and Employment

Support to date includes a twinning project for the Department of Labour and Employment within the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Furthermore, job creation initiatives have been funded through integrated return programmes and economic development projects.