Bosnia and Herzegovina and Public Participation in International

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Public Participation in International Forums Senad Oprašić, Ph. D Head of Environmental Protection Department Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Tel/fax. : 00387 33 55 23 65 senad. oprasic@mvteo. gov. ba 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Figures and facts 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Located in the Western Balkans – SE Europe Territory: 51, 209 km 2 Population 1991: 4, 364, 649 (Census) Population 2008: 3, 900, 000 (Estimation) Official languages: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Bi. H Institutional Framework B&H I – State level II – Entities F BH RS III – Cantons 1, 2. . . 10 IV – Local level ` City / Municipality 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

BH GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry of Civil Affairs Ministry of Finance and Treasury Ministry of Defence Ministry of Transport and Comunication District Brčko Ministry for Justice Ministry for Human Rights and Refugee Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economical Relation is responsible for Environmental Activities at the State Level with competencies for: International relations Definition of policy, Base principles Coordination of activities and harmonisation of plans of entities 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Ratification and implementation • Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified Aarhus convention 15 th September 2008 • Implemetation of the Convention we start earlier through the “Freedom of Access to Information Act in B&H” (B&H Official gazette”, No. 28/2000) • Provisions of this Act is included in current environmental legislation, and Public participation is obligatory regarding Environmental Permiting processes 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Promotion of PPIF • With NGOs • COP 15 on UNFCCC in Copenhagen Bosnia and Herzegovina first time includeed two members of NGO as a delegate member at the COP. • Experience is positive and it will be continued • We made report and proposals for next work • Further cooperation with NGOs • Include other stakeholders, civil society, experts, . . . 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

NGO • Sava River Commision - representatives of Bi. H NGOs attended through Danube Environmental Forum (NGOs from Bi. H members in DEF) and REC (formalized rules and procedures regarding public participation in decision-making) • ICPDR – representatives of Bi. H NGOs attended through Danube Environmental Forum (NGOs from Bi. H members in DEF), formalized rules and procedures regarding public participation in decision-making ) • EBRD - representatives of Bi. H NGOs attended through CEE Bankwatch Network (non-formalized practices concerning how the public may participate in decision-making) • They informed us on its activities 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Some of obstacles regarding PPIF • Understaffed ministries • Funding • Trainings • Education • Low public awareness 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

Further steps • Increase: – education, – trainings, – workshops and other activities in this field. . . – financial support for implementation that will help us to implement Aarhus Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina • Establishing Aarhus info centers in B&H • Implementation of existing strategies 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010