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News Published: 15 December 2022

Senior Officials from EUAA and Bosnia and Herzegovina meet as the country advances on its European path

Senior Officials from EUAA and Bosnia and Herzegovina meet as the country advances on its European path

Earlier this week, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) met with representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to discuss continued support to strengthening the country’s international protection systems. It comes as the parties begin to implement the Western Balkans Action Plan and as the European Council grants candidate status to BiH, subject to further reforms.

On Tuesday, the EUAA’s management met with Assistant Minister for Asylum Mustafa PAŠALIĆ, Chief of staff of the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, Branislav MOJEVIĆ, and Deputy Director of Border Police, Fahrudin HALAČ, to discuss progress made in implementing the Roadmap for Cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The two delegations also agreed to develop a “next-generation” roadmap that will see the EUAA provide continuing support between 2023-2025.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has made important progress in aligning its national legislation on international protection with the standards set out in the Common European Asylum System. Its case officers have benefited from EUAA training and are actively managing the country’s caseload as well as working to strengthen national Country-of-Origin research capability.

Both sides agreed to continue work on strengthening coordination between the different national authorities responsible for international protection, strengthening the asylum and reception systems through targeted capacity development, identifying vulnerable applicants, and ensuring minors benefit from effective safeguards.

 

Background

In December 2020, the-then European Asylum Support Office (EASO) signed a Roadmap for Cooperation with the national authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina to help implement international protection systems meeting the requirements of EU law. It identified three main areas of cooperation including 'strengthening of asylum related legislations, institutions and systems in line with CEAS and EU standards' contributing to 'effective asylum procedures,' and 'effective reception system' with a specific focus on persons with special needs.