The Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina actively participates in the programming and implementation of technical assistance projects all in the wide framework of EU accession and EU funded. Technical cooperation and exchange take complementary and coordinated approach with programmes provided by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, other development banks and organizations.

EU Projects

The European Union (EU) supports development and fundamental reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina through financial and technical assistance. Socio-economic reforms are key to Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress towards a functional market economy, as one of conditions for EU membership. Technical assistance is an instrument through which the EU conducts assessments and analysis of the current situation, points to required reforms, gives recommendations, guidelines and measures as well as support in implementation.

Within its long-term strategy of aligning practices, standards and policies with EU central banking standards, the Central Bank works on strengthening institutional capacities, improving operational efficiency, introducing new rules, policies, changing practices, and further developing and training staff in preparation for accession to the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) once Bosnia and Herzegovina joins the European Union.

In the EU convergence process, EU support through EU funded technical assistance programmes is very important policy tool. Technical cooperation programmes are implemented on a bilateral basis, as well as through regional and multilateral programmes.

Central bank institutional dialogue is the best and most efficient platform for knowledge and experience transfer and highly important instrument for integration into the structures of the European System of Central Banks. The special value of this type of cooperation is the continuous strengthening and deepening of relations within central banking community facilitating adoption of the best EU and international practices.

CBBH Projects implemented in cooperation with ECB and ESCB

Regional Programme „Strengthening the Central Bank Capacities in the Western Balkans with a view to the Integration to the European System of Central Banks“, IPA III, Phase II 2022-2025

The Programme was implemented together with 19 national central banks of the EU, the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Commission, chaired by the Deutsche Bundesbank. The European Union (EU) has allocated €3 million to the programme from its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II). The aim was to further strengthen the institutional capacities of central banks and supervisory agencies by enhancing their analytical and policy tools with the focus on the integration into the European System of Central Banks (ESCB).

During the programme, the CBBH experts participated in all project activities and exchange of knowledge in key areas of central banking such as financial consumer protection, financial inclusion and financial education, accounting, legal aspects of EU integration, monetary policy and research, payment systems policy, supervisory issues, statistics, and cash management.

Press release available here.

Video: Link

Regional Programme „Strengthening the Central Bank Capacities in the Western Balkans with a view to the Integration to the European System of Central Banks“, IPA II, Phase I 2019-2021

The Programme was implemented through a coordinated approach by the ECB and the 17 central banks of the ESCB and chaired by the Deutsche Bundesbank, for the benefit of central banks and supervisory authorities of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The European Union has allocated €2 million, from its Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II).

Its purpose was to further strengthen the institutional capacities of Western Balkan central banks and the two banking supervisory agencies in BiH. The specific objective of the Program was to improve regulatory convergence and alignment with EU and international standards in the context of harmonizing legislation with the acquis communautaire, strengthening the function of central banks and banking supervision systems, through enhanced analytical capacities and policies, and, transferring best international and European knowledge and standards into practice in BiH. The Program addressed the following areas: banking supervision, financial stability, financial consumer protection and financial inclusion, recovery and resolution, monetary policy, payment systems, statistics, compliance and EU integration, governance policy, accounting and internal audit.

Press release available here.

Video: Link

Implementation of ECB/Eurosystem recommendations for the CBBH arising from the Eurosystem CBBH Needs Assessment Programme, 2010 – 2011

The CBBH implemented an 18-month Technical Cooperation Programme with ECB/Eurosystem, financed by the EU through the IPA instrument in the amount of € 1 million. The Programme followed the successful 2007 Eurosystem Needs Assessment Programme and addressed short- and medium-term ECB/Eurosystem recommendations aimed at gradually harmonising CBBH operational standards with ESCB/Eurosystem standards. The Programme covered six areas: statistics, economic analysis and research, financial stability, harmonisation of legislation with the EU, coordination of integration with the EU and improvement of the CBBH's information technology services.

Press release available here.

Programme for strengthening macro and micro-prudential supervision in candidate and potential candidate countries for the EU (2010-2012)

The European Central Bank, together with 14 national central banks of the ESCB, successfully implemented a technical assistance programme aimed at strengthening the macro and microprudential capacities of supervisory authorities in the Western Balkans and Turkey, contributing to the stability of the banking system as one of the most important elements of sustainable economic growth. Beneficiaries included central banks and supervisory authorities of Croatia, North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Turkey, Serbia and Kosovo, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Press release available here.

Capacity Building of Human Resources Management of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2009

Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the CBBH), in cooperation with Deutsche Bundesbank and Czech National Bank, successfully implemented a six-month Twinning Light project with a budget of €250,000. The goal of the Project was to modernize and increase management efficiency, contributing to the development and strengthening of human capacities, as a foundation for EU integration preparations.

Press release available here.

Eurosystem Needs Assessment Programme for the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2007

The CBBH was the first central bank in the Western Balkans to establish direct technical cooperation with the ECB and partner national banks from the ESCB/Eurosystem. The Eurosystem's CBBH Needs Assessment Programme represented the first phase of cooperation and focused on assessing the situation in seven business areas (coordination of banking supervision, economic analysis and research, financial stability, internal audit, monetary policy within the currency board arrangement, payment systems and statistics), in order to identify needs for alignment with EU standards. The Programmed was financed under the CARDS2006 instrument in the amount of € 300,000.00.

Press release available here.