The purpose of the EU programmes (formerly known as Community programmes) is to support the European Union policies, and improve cooperation between the EU Member States and their citizens in various fields: culture, science, environmental protection, education, entrepreneurship development, health care, justice, fiscal and customs policy, etc.

The conclusions of the Thessaloniki European Council of June 2003 opened the possibility for the Western Balkans countries to participate in the EU programmes, with the aim to support efforts on their path to European Union, with exchange of good practices, experiences and knowledge.

Participation of the Western Balkan countries in the EU programmes is regulated by the framework agreements on general principles of participation of individual countries in the EU programmes. In January 2007, by entry into force of the Framework Agreement between the European Community and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the general principles for the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Community programmes, a possibility was opened for Bosnia and Herzegovina to access certain programmes

Given that the EU programmes follow EU policies and priorities, the accession of the EU candidate countries and potential candidates to these programmes should be selective and gradual in accordance with their own needs, capacities, strategic interests and expected benefits. It is necessary to take due account of the available institutional capacities and budgetary resources that must be set aside to participate in a particular programme. The accession process to each programme is initiated separately and is conducted by the competent state-level institution.

To join a certain programme, it is necessary to conclude an international agreement with the European Union and pay a financial contribution for participation in the programme (so called “entry ticket”) for each year of participation. “Entry ticket” could be partially financed under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance IPA.

Participation in the EU programmes is achieved, and funding is awarded based on calls for project proposals. Projects funded within the EU programmes, usually require involvement of partners from several programme countries, as well as co‑financing of the applicants.

In the period 2014-2020, Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in eight EU programmes: Horizon 2020, Creative Europe, Erasmus+ (partial participation), Third Health Programme (2014-2020), Fiscalis, Customs, COSME and Europe for Citizens.

Under the current cycle of EU programmes for the period 2021-2027, Bosnia and Herzegovina participates in the following programmes: Horizon Europe, Creative Europe, Single Market Programme - componentCompetitiveness and sustainability of SMEs, EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Fiscalis, Customs, Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV), EU4Health, Digital Europe, Justice and Erasmus+ (participation in activities within the international dimension of the programme). Within the Single Market Programme, Bosnia and Herzegovina also participates in the European exchange programme for new entrepreneurs: ʽERASMUS for Young Entrepreneursʼ.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has also launched activities related to participation in additional programmes within the 2021-2027 cycle: Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).

More information on the EU programmes for the 2021-2027 cycle can be found in the information brochure European Union Programmes 2021-2027.

In the 2021-2027 programme cycle, BiH has participated in the following EU programmes:

HORIZON EUROPE (research/science and innovation)

Competent institution: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

Further information available at:

http://www.mcp.gov.ba/Content/Read/horizon-pocetna 

https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/index_en    

https://horizoneuropencpportal.eu/find-your-ncp  (BiH national co-ordinator and contact persons for the Horizon Europe programme)

CREATIVE EUROPE (culture and audiovisual sectors)

Competent institution: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

Further information available at:

https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe  

https://kreativna-europa.ba/ 

SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME (competitiveness and entrepreneurship)

Participation in component: Competitiveness and SME sustainability

Competent institution: Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH

Further information available at:

https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/single-market-programme/overview/support-businesses_en 

https://een.ec.europa.eu/local-contact-points/ba European Entrepreneurship Network (EEN) in BiH)

https://een.ba/   

ERASMUS for Young Entrepreneurs

https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/  

https://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/page.php?cid=5&pid=018&ctr=BA&country=Bosnia%20and%20Herzogovina  (contact points for Erasmus young entrepreneurs in BiH)

EU CIVIL PROTECTION MECHANISM (civil protection and rescue)

Competent institution: BiH Ministry of Security

Further information available at:  

https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en   

FISCALIS (tax policy)

Competent institution: Indirect Taxation Authority

Further information available at:         

https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/eu-funding-customs-and-tax/fiscalis-programme_en  

CUSTOMS (customs policy)

Competent institution: Indirect Taxation Authority

Further information available at:         

https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/eu-funding-customs-and-tax/customs-programme_en 

CITIZENS, EQUALITY, RIGHTS AND VALUES (civil society, rights, fight against violence, gender equality)

Competent institution: Ministry of Justice of BiH

Further information available at:

https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/justice-and-consumers/justice-and-consumers-funding-tenders/funding-programmes/citizens-equality-rights-and-values-programme_en 

https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/grants/2021-2027/citizens-equality-rights-and-values-cerv_en  

http://www.mpr.gov.ba/web_dokumenti/default.aspx?id=13363&langTag=bs-BA

EU4Health (health protection and improvement)

Competent institution: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

Further information available at: 

https://health.ec.europa.eu/funding/eu4health-programme-2021-2027-vision-healthier-european-union_en  

DIGITAL EUROPE (digital technologies and capacities)

Competent institution: Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH 

Further information available at: 

https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme  

JUSTICE PROGRAMME (Rule of Law, Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary)

Competent institution: Ministry of Justice of BiH

More information at:

https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/justice-programme_en

ERASMUS+ (education, training, youth and sports)

(Participation in activities within the international dimension of the Erasmus+ programme)

Competent institution: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

Further information available at:        

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/  

http://www.mcp.gov.ba/publication/read/o-programu-erasmus?pageId=0 

https://www.erasmusbih.com/en/ 

https://eurydice.ba/ 

https://eqf.ba/ 

https://aposo.gov.ba/bs/erasmus/ 

https://aposo.gov.ba/bs/erasmus/etwinning/ 

https://aposo.gov.ba/hr/erasmus/eaal/ 

https://aposo.gov.ba/hr/erasmus/epale/ 

https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/ 

https://www.salto-youth.net/rc/see/contactpoints/ 

(contact points  for Erasmus+: Youth)

BiH launched activities to participate in the following EU programmes for the period 2021‑2027:

EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL INNOVATION (employment, social protection and inclusion) - EaSI

Competent institution: Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH

Further information available at: 

https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1081