The results of the three-year EU funded project “Support to trade policy and capacity building in BiH” were presented at a final conference on 5 December in Sarajevo. The aim of the project was to provide assistance to BiH to promote its integration into the global economy in general and the EU economy in particular, through the expansion of trade.
One of the most important results of the project is a document ‘White Paper’ on the foreign trade of BiH, which contains specific policy priorities in this area. As a result of institutional capacity building was highlighted achieved a Free Trade Agreement between BiH and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
In addition, an accurate and reliable trade model was developed; several legislative proposals were adopted by the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and subsequently by the BiH Council of Ministers; over 60 thematic training activities were undertaken. The special support was provided to the Chairmanship of BiH of the CEFTA Agreement. The highlight was the assistance to BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the preparation and implementation of the CEFTA Week in Sarajevo in November 2013 by which BiH’s Chairmanship of CEFTA was successfully completed.
“BiH’s ongoing effort to comply with the requirements for accession to the World Trade Organization and with the acquis, are significant steps on the road to integration into the world economy and towards the goal of becoming a full-fledged member of the EU. The Accession to the EU is the ultimate goal of BiH foreign policy, and foreign trade policy is one of the cornerstones of such policy. The goal of this project was to assist BiH indeveloping its policies in line with the EU“, said Martin Schieder, Head of Operations Sections for Economic Development, Natural Resources and Infrastructure in the EU Delegation to BiH.
The main beneficiary of the project was the BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, which received support in developing its institutional capacity related to the implementation of the STO, CEFTA and SAA, EU accession and other multilateral negotiations.
“European integration is not an easy process, especially for the countries of the Balkans, particularly BiH. Therefore, the EU’s assistance, through projects like this, is of great importance. The construction and establishment of foreign policy, the setting of goals for a country, when it comes to foreign policy, is of great importance. The final results of this project will be seen in future years. However, I think an excellent base has been made, personnel are trained, and programmes are designed that will surely help”, said Midhat Salic, BiH Assistant Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.
The total value of the project is 2.9 mill EUR.
