Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Back Congress action in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Focus on democratic innovations and open local government

In an online conference on 23 February 2022, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe launched a new project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” and discussed the use of deliberative methods and principles of open government to enhance the quality of local democracy, building on the successful organisation of a Citizens Assembly in Mostar under the previous project in 2021.

“The experiences of deliberative processes throughout Europe strengthen our belief that this form of citizen engagement is a meaningful complement to representative democracy and has a particular important value for multicultural societies”, stated Stewart Dickson, Congress Spokesperson on the observation of local and regional elections (United Kingdom, ILDG), while sharing his personal experience in Northern Ireland. Advisor to the City of Mostar Radmila Komadina highlighted the positive dynamics the Citizens’ Assembly brought in their relations with citizens. “The City Council of Mostar adopted the Action plan for the implementation of all citizens recommendations from the first Citizens’ Assembly and is determined to launch a 2^nd Citizens assembly on the same model as it has proven to be inclusive and tailored to our particular context,” she added. Both Stewart Dickson and Radmila Komadina encouraged other local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to embrace deliberative processes as useful tool and opportunity to advance co-creation with citizens.

Vesna Travljanin, Executive Director of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Aco Pantić, Secretary General of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska, expressed readiness to contribute to peer-exchanges and thanked the Congress for this first project to be implemented with both associations.

“We trust that co-operation joint effort within this project will lead towards a conducive environment to change and towards strengthened local self-government in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, said Andreas Kiefer, Secretary General of the Congress. “We are very pleased to work together with the associations of local authorities, as fully fledged partners, to nurture open government, transparent and accountable local decision-making, and jointly promote a new culture of governance closer to citizens”, he concluded.

Some 110 participants, including mayors and members of local councils, also exchanged on ways and tools to integrate standards of open government and human rights in local governance in the country, including with the help of the Congress bE-open online tool and the Handbook on Open Local Government and Public Ethics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Local authorities were invited to apply for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) local programme, drawing inspiration from the experience of Tirana (Albania), one of the few OGP local members in the South-East of Europe.

This event was organised in the framework of the project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025. The project aims to enhance the quality of local democracy and create opportunities for citizens to engage in innovative participatory processes in Mostar and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will promote new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy making in the country.

Links to:

bE-Open

Handbook on open local government and public ethics

Open Government Local Programme (call)

Agenda

Speech by Andreas Kiefer

Sarajevo 23 February 2022

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The project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” aims to enhance the quality of local democracy and create opportunities for citizens to engage in innovative participatory processes in Mostar and elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy making in the country.

The project is implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025, and in line with the principles enshrined in the European Charter for Local Self-Government (ETS No. 122) and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No.207).

OUTCOMES

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoy enhanced local democracy and more transparent local public institutions
Local authorities embed inclusive and innovative deliberative approaches to enhance decision-making
Local elected representatives and public officials strengthen their capacities to engage in collaborative governance and co-creation with citizens and civil society organisations.

METHODOLOGY

This project builds on the fruitful co-operation with the City of Mostar and the positive results of the first deliberative process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the form of a citizens’ assembly. Support will be provided for the implementation of the Action Plan adopted in response to the citizens’ recommendations, and to conduct a second citizens’ assembly.

The best practices of deliberative democracy will be further promoted. Following a call for interest, another local authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina will benefit from project support to set up a tailored deliberative process.

Capacity development activities will be proposed to local authorities across the country with a view to enhancing the quality of local democracy and fostering collaborative governance and co-creation with citizens and civil society. These activities will be designed in close co-operation with the Associations of Municipalities and Cities from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and from Republika Srpska.

The Congress will also provide local and international expertise and support in the field of good governance and democracy, including academic support through the Group of Independent Experts to the Charter, for the development of practices and policies.

A peer-to-peer approach, including with the members of the Congress, will be used for exchanges and sharing of knowledge, know-how and practices across Europe. This support will be provided directly to local authorities and in close co-operation with the associations of local authorities.

Active participation of stakeholders at local level will be ensured, ranging from the general public to interest groups, NGOs, academia and local authorities.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Mostar City Authorities implement the action plan approved by the City Council as a follow-up to the citizens’ recommendations stemming from the first deliberative process held in 2021
A deliberative process is commissioned and organised under the leadership of the Mayor and City Council of Mostar
The mayor, local councillors, and public officials from a selected local authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina develop further their capacities to implement an inclusive deliberative process
A deliberative process is designed in one more local authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina and citizens formulate proposals to local decision-makers
The two associations of municipalities and cities promote transparent, accountable, and participatory local governance through peer exchanges and advocacy
Local authorities enhance their capacities on innovative practices for inclusive, transparent and participatory local governance.

PARTNERS AND BENEFICIARIES

Citizens of Mostar and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The City of Mostar and authorities of the selected towns or cities in BiH
Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska
Civil society and media.

The Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 is a strategic programming instrument that aims to bring Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislation, institutions and practice further into line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. The Action Plan is intended to support the country’s efforts to honour its obligations as a Council of Europe member State.

Within this framework, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is implementing the project "Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina". This action is based on the needs and recommendations voiced by relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries and builds upon the results of the project “Building democratic participation in the City of Mostar”.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

www.coe.int/en/web/congress/co-operation-activities

Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo

www.coe.int/en/web/sarajevo

Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022 – 2025

www.coe.int/en/web/programmes/bosnia-and-herzegovina

Mostar Citizens’ Assembly

www.mostargradimo.ba

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

www.coe.int/congress

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 46 member states, including all the members of the European Union. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.