Strategic priorities for future IPA assistance were in focus at the second meeting of the EU-BiH joint working group on EU funded assistance projects at the EU House in Sarajevo today. Participants discussed and agreed on the development of new projects by June 2014, in particular in the areas of democracy and governance, rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as economic and social development.

The meeting of the Working Group was chaired by Mr Jean-Eric Paquet, Director for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo* in the European Commission Directorate-General for Enlargement. The meeting was attended by the FBiH Prime Minister, Mr Nermin Niksic, the RS Prime Minister, Ms Zeljka Cvijanovic and the Director of the BiH Directorate for European Integration, Ms Nevenka Savic and the Head of the Cabinet of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr Eugen Susak. The EU Delegation was represented by Deputy Head of Delegation Dr Renzo Daviddi and the Head of Cooperation Dr Holger Schroeder.

The Working Group reviewed the progress achieved in the implementation of the set of concrete measures agreed at the first Working Group meeting on March 13. These measures aimed at accelerating on-going projects in the value of 210 million Euro and ensuring an early start of additional projects in the value of 150 million Euro that are yet to be contracted. The Working Group welcomed in particular the adoption of an action plan to accelerate the implementation of the European Investment Bank-led programme on the construction and rehabilitation of water and waste water systems in the FBiH. Preparations have furthermore commenced to use reallocated existing IPA funds in the amount of 14.2 million € for the promotion of economic and social development.

In view of future IPA assistance in the period 2014 – 2020, the Working Group reviewed the status of preparation of country wide sector strategies. As such strategies do not yet exist for transport, environment, and agriculture and rural development; Bosnia and Herzegovina will therefore not yet be able to benefit from IPA support in these investment-intensive sectors. The European Commission urged the authorities to make use of the expert assistance provided by the EU to advance their preparation. The existence of country wide strategies on justice and public administration reform was acknowledged. However, it was emphasized that political support was needed to ensure the adoption of follow-up strategies and action plans covering the new IPA period 2014 to 2020.

The European Commission presented a first draft of its strategic priorities for IPA for the years 2014 to 2017 in the form of the IPA Country Strategy Paper: The proposed focus is on democracy and governance, rule of law and fundamental rights, and social and economic development.
 
Following the discussion of sector strategies and strategic priorities, the Working Group discussed a set of potential priorities for projects to be considered for financing from IPA 2014 in areas where strategies and coordination exist.

The European Commission will continue its dialogue with civil society as part of the joint IPA-BiH Working Group through a meeting on April 3rd, which will likewise be chaired by Director Paquet.