On 1 January 2025 the Council of Europe initiated the implementation of a 12-month project entitled “Providing for effective reintegration of violent extremist offenders in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (PER-VEO), phase I. It was implemented in close cooperation with the three Ministries of Justice (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of BiH, and Republika Srpska), and their respective partners from the entity and state penitentiary institutions, law enforcement agencies, social welfare services and other relevant stakeholders.

The overall purpose of the project was to continue the support to the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities in enhancing safety and security of their citizens, as well as to further facilitate the processes of reintegration of the violent extremism offenders (VEOs) back to their local communities. This was done through a dual approach that focused on improving the institutional framework and operational capacities of the institutions to respond to current trends and needs with regards to the management, rehabilitation and reintegration of sanctioned individuals, with focus on violent extremist prisoners and radicalised persons. At the same time, the project further enhanced the skills and knowledge of prison staff and other responsible authorities managing VEOs, ensuring that preconditions for sustainable application and utilisation are put in place.

The proposed intervention was a continuation of the support provided to the authorities in line with the needs and actions identified within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025. Those actions have been initiated and piloted successfully as part of the project “Ensuring Sustainable Penitentiary Actions in Managing Rehabilitation of Violent Extremism Prisoners in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (ESPA-VEP), and this project further built on the results achieved under the previous projects.

The project had an overall budget of 500,000 EUR and was financed under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2020–2025.