Bosna i Hercegovina 
Conference: Strengthening the role of municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in European integration process
A conference “The role of municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process” was held in Sarajevo on 16 September 2025. The event was organised by the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of BiH, the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Republika Srpska and the Directorate for European Integration (DEI), with the support of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR).
In her opening address, the Director of the Directorate, Elvira Habota, underlined that European integration was both a social and development process requiring the involvement of all levels of government, the economy, academia and civil society. She underlined the pivotal role of local communities, where citizens experience most directly the effects of EU policies and standards on their daily lives.
“Municipalities and cities, as institutions closest to citizens, bear a specific responsibility in recognising and addressing real community needs – from infrastructure, education and social protection to environmental protection, digitalisation and creating conditions for economic growth. This is why it is so important that European values, standards and policies must first take root here, in our local communities, where their benefits are most directly visible to citizens,” Habota stated.
The conference was also addressed by Vesna Travljanin, Director of the FBiH Association of Municipalities and Cities; Mladen Mišurić-Ramljak, Deputy Chair of the Presidency of the FBiH Association of Municipalities and Cities; Ljubiša Ćosić, Chair of the RS Association of Municipalities and Cities; Ewa-May Karlsson, Chair of the International Committee of SALAR; Luigi Soreca, EU Ambassador and EUSR to BiH; Gabriele Derighetti, Swiss Ambassador to BiH and Sara Lindegren, Chargée d’Affaires at the Embassy of Sweden in BiH.
Three panel discussions explored the role of local self-governments in the EU accession process, ways to strengthen the involvement of municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s European integration, as well as opportunities to enhance their participation in EU-funded projects.