What is the Horizontal Facility?

The joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” (Horizontal Facility III) is a co-operation initiative and one of the results of the Statement of Intent signed on 1 April 2014 by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, in which both Organisations agreed to further strengthen their co-operation in key areas of joint interest.

The programme is ongoing since 2016 and the third phase begun in January 2023 for a period of 48 months. The third phase of the programme (worth €41 million (85% funded by the EU, 15% by the CoE) keeps building on the results of the previous phases and it combines Beneficiary-specific and regional actions.

It enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with European standards, which is also a priority for the EU enlargement process.

Themes covered by the Horizontal Facility include:

• strengthening justice
• fighting corruption, economic crime and money laundering
• promoting anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups (including LGBTI, minorities and Roma) and
• promoting and protecting freedom of expression and media

The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism that provides legislative expertise and policy advice within the Council of Europe system remains also an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.

The Horizontal Facility relies on the Council of Europe’s unique working methods, whereby tailor-made technical co-operation activities are based on conclusions and recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies highlight areas where improvements are needed in legislation and policies of the Beneficiaries to comply with the Organisation’s treaties and other standards.

Which Horizontal Facility actions are being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the following actions are currently being implemented:

• Strengthening the efficiency and quality of justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiHSEJ)
• Further strengthening the treatment of detained and sentenced persons in line with European standards in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Action against corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Towards an equal, inclusive and tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Quality education for all – Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina (PRO-FREX-BH)