Key officials responsible for overseeing political party financing in Bosnia and Herzegovina have further strengthened their ability to identify and report potential criminal offences in line with current legislation and the practice of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office.

At a Council of Europe training held on 10-11 December in Jahorina, criminal law specialists and experts from the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo, and the BiH Prosecutor’s Office worked with members of the BiH Central Election Commission’s audit and legal departments  to deepen their understanding of what constitutes a criminal offence in the context of party financing. Participants received practical guidelines and a structured checklist to better prepare and submit reports to relevant prosecution offices.

The training focused on core elements of criminal liability related to political party financing, including how to recognise key indicators of a criminal offence, distinguish administrative violations from criminal conduct, understand the threshold of reasonable suspicion, and assess what qualifies as relevant evidence. These topics were explored through lectures, case studies, and practical exercises designed to mirror real-life scenarios.

The Commission’s Audit Department plays a central role in reviewing and auditing political parties’ financial reports under the BiH Law on Political Party Financing. When potential irregularities arise, auditors are required to report them to the competent prosecutorial institutions. Strengthening auditors’ ability to differentiate between administrative and criminal matters is essential for consistent, precise and timely reporting.

By enhancing these competencies, the training contributes to reducing inconsistencies, alleviating delays and legal uncertainty, and ultimately strengthening transparency in political party financing. These efforts further align with the New Democratic Pact for Europe, which recognises transparency and the structural integrity of democratic systems as core objectives in rebuilding trust and safeguarding democracy.

The training was organised as part of the Council of Europe project “Supporting transparency, inclusiveness and integrity of electoral practice and processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, funded through voluntary contributions under the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.