On 15 November 2007, Ambassador Kourkoulas, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to BiH, and H. E. Alessandro Fallavollita, Ambassador of Italy to BiH, opened the conference which marked the successful completion of the EU-funded Twinning light project to support the Communication Regulatory Agency.

The conference presented the achievements of the successful cooperation between CRA and the Italian Autorita per le Garanzie nelle Communicazioni (AGCOM). This is the second project with AGCOM as a twinning partner and it has paved the way for the mutual cooperation agreement that was signed at the event by representatives of both institutions.

The overall objective of the project was to ensure proper regulation of the communications sector in BiH, fully implement the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) reforms, and to support the independence of the CRA. In particular, this Twinning Light Project was aimed at empowering and transferring know-how to its employees in areas of broadcasting, telecommunications and frequency spectrum management. The project also included a considerable training element for CRA staff, including study trips to Rome and Naples.

Ambassador Kourkoulas noted that the independent status of the CRA is well established, which is of crucial importance for the development of the broadcasting and tele-communications market. He noted some progress in regards to audio visual policy and that CRA started the revision of the Broadcasting Code of Practice. He regretted that the Federation of BiH has been unable to adopt the necessary public broadcasting legislation and the implementation of public broadcasting reform continues to be delayed. He added that the EC intends to continue to assist the CRA as it is an example of a BiH institution which has successfully taken over responsibility for its sectors from the international community. He noted that this indicates that BiH is in position to implement reform, despite its complexity, providing that there is the will to do so.

H. E. Alessandro Fallavollita expressed his pride at the successful conclusion of this twinning light project which has created the framework for future co-operation. This is the best proof that such links are successful and create a spirit of partnership.

Commissioner Napoli of AGCOM and Mr. Kemal Huseinovic, Director of the communication Regulatory Agency, provided further details on the projects tasks and achievements:

• Analysis of the BiH communication sector;
• Drafting of a set of possible regulatory improvements;
• Drafting of an updated report;
• Transfer of knowledge, through training.

Mrs. M. Fernandez Esteban of the European Commission’s DG Information Society, read the letter sent by Commissioner Viviane Reding to Mr. Huseinovic and gave a presentation on the EC’s view on convergence of media.

About Twinning:

Twinning is an instrument used in the context of EU assistance for candidate and pre-candidate countries to strengthen their administrative and institutional capacity in preparation for membership of the European Union. It helps them adapt their administrations to implement the aquis communautaire (European laws) and take on the obligations that future membership will bring. In addition to technical and administrative assistance, it helps to build long-term relationships between the old, new, and future EU Member States and brings the beneficiary country into wider contact with the diversity of administrative practices inside the EU.