Representatives of state- and entity-level institutions, independent bodies, and civil society organisations of Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in Sarajevo on 12 February 2026 for the launch of the new Council of Europe project “Strengthening Information Integrity in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. On this occasion, the first Steering Committee meeting of the project was also held.

The project aims to enhance the conditions for the effective exercise of freedom of expression and the public’s right of access to accurate and reliable information in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in the context of a rapidly evolving digital environment. It addresses emerging challenges such as the spread of disinformation, the misuse of artificial intelligence, the safety of journalists, and the promotion of media and information literacy.

On the same day, a Steering Committee meeting of the action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PRO-FREX)”, implemented under the European Union and Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” was organised. Its members reaffirmed their continued support to the judiciary, legal professionals, law enforcement authorities, and the media community, with the aim of ensuring more effective protection of journalists and other media actors, and of further strengthening freedom of expression and media freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Moving forward, both Steering Committees reiterated their commitment to achieving the projects’ objectives in line with European standards on freedom of expression. Both projects are implemented by the Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression of the Council of Europe