When the Mostar City Council adopted an Action Plan to implement the recommendations of the 2024 Citizens’ Assembly on 27 January 2026, it sent a clear message: citizens’ voices matter and they lead to real change.

Like many other cities, Mostar has long faced the challenge of short tourist stays and uneven economic benefits. This issue was at the heart of the second Citizens’ Assembly, held in early 2024 with support from the Council of Europe, when forty randomly selected residents explored how to encourage visitors to stay longer and contribute more sustainably to the local economy.

Over several weekends, participants worked with facilitators and experts, examined evidence, and shared lived experiences. Their discussions produced 29 concrete recommendations, including measures to strengthen the Tourist Board, improve transport for visitors, and enhance the city’s digital tourism platforms.

These ideas did not remain on paper. The Action Plan translates them into practical steps, with clear responsibilities, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms, aimed at strengthening public policies and improving quality of life in Mostar.

For Tarik Maksumić, one of the Citizens’ Assembly participants, this outcome carries special meaning. “It means a lot for the voice of ordinary citizens to be heard in this way, and that the City Council acknowledges it.”

He initially approached the process with scepticism. “I was afraid it would not be meaningful, just another empty exercise. But everyone was fully engaged - Assembly participants, facilitators, moderators. The energy, the work, the topic, everything just fit in.”

Some recommendations are already being implemented. The City of Mostar and the NGO People in Need, once more with Council of Europe support, organised a training workshop for certified tour guides last November, focusing on the Plane Tree Avenue and other natural monuments.

At the City Council session, Chair Đani Rahimić described the citizens’ assembly as a key mechanism for dialogue between institutions and residents, and the Action Plan as a strong framework for transparency and follow-up.

For Tarik, the impact goes beyond tourism policy. “It builds trust, the fact that the City Council listens to ordinary citizens who want to see their city functioning.”

This experience also reflects the objectives of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, which promotes citizen participation and trust in democratic institutions. Citizens’ assemblies bring together diverse voices, provide balanced information, and enable informed, respectful deliberation. In Mostar, this approach has translated participation into policy.

Reflecting on his experience, Tarik sums it up simply: “For me, this citizens’ assembly deserves a solid 10 out of 10.”

By turning collective reflection into concrete action, Mostar shows that meaningful citizen engagement can strengthen democracy and deliver lasting benefits for residents, visitors, and the city’s future.

 Read more about deliberative democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is currently implementing the project Advancing multilevel dialogue, innovative democracy and human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina, focused on strengthening participatory, transparent and rights-based local governance. The project is implemented under the Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026-2029.