The first Steering Committee meeting of the project 'Enhancing institutional capacities on freedom of expression and information in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EFEX)' was held on 12 September 2022 in Sarajevo. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant state and entity ministries and institutions, as well as representatives of the media and civil society.
The meeting was launched with the opening remarks delivered by Ms Bojana Urumova Head of Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo, Ms Eva Smedberg Counsellor Development Cooperation Department at Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Ms Saliha Đuderija Assistant to Minster at Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MHRR).
In her speech, Ms Urumova emphasised that the range of issues covered under the project, necessitate not only cooperation and partnership with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also participation of a wide network of partners, including, the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH, Ministry of Justice of BiH, Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH, Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman, relevant entity-level ministries and the Brčko District, Data Protection Agency, BiH Association of Journalists, Press and Online Media Council and Mediacentar.
During the meeting, the project’s nature of intervention, and workplan of activities received final endorsement by the project partner Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as state and entity level ministries and institutions, representatives of the media and civil society.
The meeting concluded with a fruitful discussion during which media and civil society representatives and representatives of state and entity level ministries, provided the team with valuable inputs to the project’s modus operandi. Stakeholders confirmed membership to the Steering Committee and the latter was established as the advisory body of the EFEx project.
The project ‘Enhancing institutional capacities on freedom of expression and information in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EFEx)’ is implemented by the Council of Europe and funded through the voluntary contribution of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
