The closing conference of the EU funded project “EU Support to Competition and State Aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina” took place on May 8th, 2008 in Sarajevo. The key results and achievements of this Project, which aspired to develop the capacities of the BiH governmental system to regulate competition and to facilitate the establishment of a State Aid System, were presented at the conference. By implementing the Project, progress has been achieved in the functioning of the BiH single market in line with EU law and policy, which is going to lead to an improvement of trade and investment directed to BiH.
On behalf of the Delegation of European Commission to BiH, Mr. Johann Hesse, the Head of Operations commented on both fields of this Project (Competition and State Aid) as essential pillars for the development of a functioning market economy in BiH. Furthermore, Mr. Hesse outlined the importance of this assistance in relation to the foreseen EU/BiH Stabilisation and Association Agreement signing. Also, speaking in the name of EC Delegation to BiH, he expressed an appreciation of the fact that the responsible Ministers and ministries in BiH were aware of this importance and have recently stressed the urgent necessity to make progress concerning the adoption of a State Aid System Law for BiH. In this regard, Mr. Hesse added that the development of legislation in both areas of this Project was also important for BiH in terms of the implementation of other international agreements, particularly CEFTA and the Treaty establishing the Energy Community in Southeast Europe, as well as BiH obligations in regard to the WTO accession process.
The Project cooperated with the BiH Ministry for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, whose representative, Mr. Samir Sabljica, expressed a satisfaction with the fact that all Project tasks were completed successfully and that the Project delivered measurable results, as well as a first Annual Report on State Aid in BiH for the period of 2004-2006.
Pointing out the major benefit of the Project, the President of the Competition Council of BiH, Mr. Ibrica Lakišić, said: «We are ready for the implementation of SAA provisions in the field of competition.”
Other participants also congratulated the Project Team on the successful implementation. A more in-depth analysis of the Project results has been made and recommendations were discussed during the afternoon session of the Conference.
The European Commission Delegation to BiH financed the EU Support to Competition and State Aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project through its CARDS 2005 Programme in the amount of around 1.5 million Euro.
