Members of the PABiH Delegation to the PACE, Saša Magazinović and Branislav Borenović, meet with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe

The Chair of the Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH) to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Saša Magazinović, and Delegation member Branislav Borenović met today with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, who is on a multi-day official visit to our country.

Magazinović and Borenović thanked Secretary General Berset for the Council of Europe's engagement to date, emphasizing that the advice and expertise of this institution, particularly through the work of the Venice Commission, are of invaluable importance for aligning domestic legislation with the European acquis.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe praised the active participation of the PABiH delegation in the work of the PACE, assessing that Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to have a strong partner in the Council of Europe, especially regarding unquestionable support for reform processes, human rights protection issues, and the strengthening of the rule of law.

Both sides agreed on the need for stronger political engagement by the Council of Europe in BiH, in the context of current global geopolitical changes, as well as the fulfillment of BiH's obligations arising from its membership in the Council of Europe, particularly the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In this regard, Secretary General Berset's visit was assessed as powerful and encouraging for BiH, as were the announced visits of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Petra Bayr, and the Chair of the PACE Subcommittee on the Western Balkans, Piero Fassino.

The Council of Europe delegation, which included the Head of the Council of Europe Office in BiH, Bojana Urumova, announced the presentation of the new Council of Europe Action Plan for BiH for the 2026–2029 period. This plan will, as stated, focus on maintaining free and fair elections in BiH, as well as on the empowerment of women in political life. It was emphasized that the Council of Europe will support the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, Haris Bašić. (end)