Public debate on experiences and possibilities of using the IPA funds in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 
The Parliamentary Forum on BiH European Integration, with co-operation of the Westminster Foundation on Democracy, organized a public debate titled “Using IPA funds in BiH: Experiences and possibilities”. This debate took place today, in the building of the BH PA.

The public debate, which included representatives of all levels of government and of international organizations in BiH, stressed that a co-ordination mechanism ought to be in BiH, in order to utilize IPA funds in their fullest capacity. It was also pointed out that the cross-border co-operation requirement for the use of IPA II, relies on the development of a strategy for key sectors foreseen in the IPA II component.

Moreover, attention was called to the fact that BiH is in its early stages of using IPA funds, and has not yet reached the desired level of function. One of the reasons for this is the lack of institutional and legal mechanisms for effective monitoring of the use of IPA funds. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen and support parliaments in developing parliamentary committees, and to strengthen the supervision of the use of EU funds, as announced at today’s meeting.

Since parliamentary institutions face the obligation to harmonize BiH legislation with EU legislation, only joint and co-ordinated action can be constructive in this process, as stated during the debate.

The BiH Parliamentary Forum consists of members of the Joint Committee for European Integration, the BiH PA Commission for European Integration of the House of Representatives of the Federation of BiH, and the Committee for European Integration and Regional Co-operation of the RS National Assembly. (End)