The presidencies of the Associations of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Republika Srpska came together this week in Višegrad for their second joint session, following the first-ever organised in 2023.

The presidencies of the respective assemblies, elected from among member municipalities and cities, act as executive bodies co-ordinating the work and policies of the associations. Their closer co-operation enhances the associations’ ability to advocate for local interests and to provide members with tools for strengthening local democracy.

Supported by the Council of Europe, the Višegrad meeting created space for discussion on practical issues shaping local life across the country, such as democratic innovation, citizen participation, human rights protection, and ways to improve local governance. Experts engaged by the associations provided opinions on different aspects of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public procurement law, offering concrete suggestions for improvements from the perspective of local authorities.

Participants agreed that co-operation is essential - between municipalities and cities themselves, but also with higher levels of government. As the second meeting of its kind, it marks the next step in the collaboration between the two associations, with further exchanges and joint activities already planned.

Addressing the meeting, the Vice-President of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Gunn Marit, underscored that shared challenges require joint solutions: “No city, no town, no region stands alone. The challenges we face, from climate change to social inclusion, are shared, and so too the solutions must be. The Congress believes deeply that when local authorities come together, they multiply their strength, their creativity, and their resilience.”

The initiative is supported through Council of Europe grants, part of ongoing efforts to strengthen local governance and foster greater collaboration. By encouraging the exchange of ideas and practices, the aim is to ensure that successful approaches can be multiplied for the benefit of communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The meeting was facilitated as part of the project “Strengthening democratic innovations and promoting human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, implemented by the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.