Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a successor state of the former Republic of Yugoslavia. It is one of the states involved in the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, out of which the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) emerged in 2008. The aim of this state-level forum for dialogue is to support the region's nations in their efforts to promote peace, democracy and respect for human rights, and to develop their economies. In addition to promoting regional cooperation, the most important tasks of the new Cooperation Council include strengthening European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Bosnia and Herzegovina is striving for closer ties with the European Union and is seeking accession to the EU as well as NATO membership.

In early 2006, negotiations were held with the EU on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). This Agreement, which includes a host of provisions on trade facilitation, was signed provisionally in December 2007. Once Bosnia and Herzegovina had met a number of crucial preconditions, which included getting a process of police reform under way, the Agreement came into force in July 2008.

A country split in three parts – one central government

The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina paid a high price for their independence. Shortly after the referendum held in March 1992, in which more than 60 percent of voters opted for independence, a war broke out that lasted until 1995. Only the intervention of the UN and NATO put an end to hostilities. In November 1995, the warring factions agreed to the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Since then, Bosnia and Herzegovina has consisted of two autonomous entities – the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Republika Srpska (RS). The border district around the town of Brčko was granted a special status. The different parts of the country share a common central government, although this has only limited powers. Numerous legislative and executive competences are exercised at the level of the entities. In addition, differences between the various parties, ethnic groups and sub-regions are blocking urgently needed reforms, such as work on a new constitution, the creation of a common economic area and the modernisation of the education system.

The country's three major ethnic groups – Croats, Bosniaks und Serbs – do not share a common vision of a unified state. This jeopardises key elements of good governance such as accountability, transparency and participation.

Implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement

The international community created the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an international authority responsible for implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement. From the beginning of 2006 to mid-2007 this post was held by Christian Schwarz-Schilling, a former minister of the German federal government. Concurrently he served as the Special Representative of the EU. In July 2007 the Slovakian diplomat Miroslav Lajčák took on this dual position.

Relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Germany

There is a long history of close economic and cultural links between Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Germany is one of the country's most important international partners. It works with the USA and other countries in the Contact Group for Bosnia and Herzegovina, is one of the Balkan country's main advocates within the European Union, and has played a significant part in the donor conferences for the reconstruction of the country. Germany is also involved in the EUFOR peacekeeping troops (European Military Force, troops of the European Union) and in the European Union Police Mission (EUPM).

The close relations between Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also based on numerous personal experiences and contacts: many inhabitants have spent time in Germany as "guest workers" from former Yugoslavia; 300,000 of the civil war refugees admitted by Germany have now returned to their homeland and maintain contact between the two countries. Accordingly there is a strong interest in German language and culture. A cultural agreement was signed between the two countries in 2004.

German development cooperation supports Bosnia and Herzegovina particularly in the fields of economic reform and development of the market system, water supply and energy as well as the stabilisation of democracy.

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