In addition to the European Commission which has a leading role in coordinating a strategy, each country has coordinators who provide support in implementation, in order to meet long-term, strategic goals of participating countries. The macro-regional strategies do not have their own resources, but the funds are provided from the sources such as the European Structural and Investments Funds.

The expected outcomes of each macro-regional strategy are to define problems, to determine common goals, to participate in activities through projects and programmes and thus to provide long-term and efficient solutions that would benefit the country and a region.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is included in two macro-regional strategies:

- EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR)

- EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR)

There are also the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) and EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).

More information can be found here. 

• EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION (EUSDR)

The EUSDR was adopted in 2010. The EUSDR includes nine EU Member States and five non-EU states: Germany (Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria), Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia, and Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine. The EUSDR consists of four priority pillars:

 A. Connecting the Region

 B. Protecting the Region environment

 C. Building prosperity

 D. Strengthening the Region

The official web site https://www.danube-region.eu

• EU STRATEGY FOR THE ADRIATIC AND IONIAN REGION (EUSAIR)

The EUSAIR was adopted in 2014. It includes four EU Member States (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece) and six non-EU states (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia and San Marino). The EUSAIR is founded on four thematic priorities/pillars that are further divided into specific topics and actions. Coordinators of each pillar are two states (one EU Member State and one non-EU state). The EUSAIR covers the following pillars:

A. Blue Growth

B. Connecting the Region

C. Environmental Quality

D. Sustainable Tourism

E. Improved social cohesion

The official web site of the EUSAIR is: http://www.adriatic-ionian.eu/

STRATEGIC PROJECTS

• EUSAIR FACILITY POINT

The strategic project EUSAIR Facility Point, developed under the INTERREG ADRION programme with the aim of supporting the governance structure of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR), was concluded at the end of 2023. Its successor project, “EUSAIR Facility Point II”, also a strategic project within the same programme, began its activities as early as September 3, 2023. The total duration of the project is 52 months, spanning from September 3, 2023 to December 31, 2027. After four years of implementation, the project's effectiveness will be evaluated, and if deemed successful, it may be extended for an additional two years, i.e., until December 31, 2029. The lead partner of the project is the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development of the Republic of Slovenia, while the project partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Directorate for European Integration (DEI), as was the case with the previous project. Since EUSAIR encompasses EU Member States, EU candidate countries, and even third countries (such as San Marino), the strategic project will be funded through the INTERREG programme and national co-financing amounting to 15%. The DEI participates in the work of the EUSAIR Governing Board, while representatives of relevant institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina participate in the thematic working groups, in line with EUSAIR priorities.

More information about the Project may be seen at the following link: https://eusairfacilitypoint.adrioninterreg.eu/

Contact point:

Tina Trapara

EUSAIR Facility Point Project Officer

Tel: +387 33 255 495

e-mail: tina.trapara @dei.gov.ba

• DIALOGUE FOR INNOVATION (D4I)

At the end of 2022, following an invitation from the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, the Directorate for European Integration (as the only partner from non-EU countries) participated in the preparation of an application for one of the four designated institutional projects within the Interreg Euro-MED 2021–2027 programme – Dialogue for Innovation (D4I). The application was approved by the Programme’s Managing Authority, and both the Partnership Agreement and Subsidy Agreement for the D4I project were signed. The project is co-financed with 20% provided by the project partners and 80% from the Interreg Fund.

In addition to the Emilia-Romagna Region, the project involves 10 partners from countries such as Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, and Portugal, including several international organisations. The implementation of the project began in early 2023, and the Directorate for European Integration hosted the first Innovation Camp with a large number of participants during the EUSAIR Forum in Sarajevo. The D4I project is planned to run through 14 reporting (six-month) periods from 2023 until 30 September 2029.

More about the project: https://innovative-sustainable-economy.interreg-euro-med.eu/

Contact point:

AdiHadzihalilovic

Dialogue for Innovation (D4I) Project Officer

Tel: +387 33 209 032

e-mail: adi.hadzihalilovic@dei.gov.ba