The secure and timely exchange of information represents the substance of co-operation and co-ordination between the agencies and institutions involved in countering violent extremism. Maintaining a constant information flow in a unified and harmonised manner between all relevant stakeholders is of crucial importance for the achievement of positive results in the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism, but also for successful rehabilitation and resocialisation of violent extremist offenders (VEOs).

Therefore, the representatives from the justice ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republika Srpska, BiH State Prison, Mostar and Bijeljina prisons, BiH Ministry of Security, BiH Intelligence and Security Agency, Police Directorate of the Federation of BiH, Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska, and Brčko District Police gathered on 28-29 May 2025 in Trebinje for the first of three planned meetings to work together towards enhancing existing cooperation and planning next steps for further advancements of information exchange.

During the two-day meeting the participants discussed the ways to enhance collaboration and information sharing protocols. They agreed on the need to update the current legislative framework for cooperation between penitentiary institutions and LEAs and proposed joint capacity building activities to further strengthen cross-institutional cooperation.

Participants agreed on the need and usefulness of periodic joint meetings to discuss the prevention and countering violent extremism, and to work on formal cooperation mechanisms, particularly related to operational work in prisons and sharing the information with LEAs.

The meeting is part of a broader initiative to further strengthen the prison operational work within the penitentiary systems of Bosnia and Herzegovina, being a significant part in detecting signs and providing early warning related to the potential harmful acts coming from VEOs and to enhance cooperation and information exchange with LEAs with the aim to build sustainable mechanisms for preventing security threats in prisons and in the society.

The Project “Providing for effective reintegration of violent extremist offenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PER-VEO) - Phase I” is funded under the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.