• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Aspen Institute Germany

Das Logo des Aspen Institute Germany in der blauen Version
Newsletter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Deutsch
  • About Aspen
    • Aspen Germany
    • Boards
    • Team
    • Jobs
    • Aspen International
    • Shepard Stone Award
  • Programs
    • Digital Program
      • Digitalization and Democracy
        • Democracy 2.0 – Strengthening Liberal Values in the Ages of Digital Disruption
        • Digital Dish Series
        • Disinformation and the Role of Influencers in Times of Conflict  
        • ENGAGING GERMAN INFLUENCERS INITIATIVE
        • COVID-19 and Tech Virtual Conversation Series
        • Media Literacy Initiative
        • Tech and the Worker Series: Overcoming the Conundrums of the “Great Decoupling”
        • #InfluencersAgainstDisinfo
      • Digitalization and Ethics
        • AITech Dialogues Series
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2021
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2020
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2019
        • Aspen Berlin AI Conference 2018
      • Digitalization and European Sovereignty
        • A Transatlantic Perspective on Digital Sovereignty
      • Digitalization and Geopolitics
      • Digitalization and Transatlantic Relations
        • German-American Trade and Tech Dialogue
    • Europe Program
      • Aspen Initiative for Europe
      • The Future of Europe
      • Western Balkans Background Discussions
      • Western Balkans Regional Dialog
      • Aspen Southeast Europe Foreign Minister Conference
      • Berlin Policy Hub for Think Tanks from the Western Balkans
      • Civil Society & Think Tank Forum Berlin
      • Visegrad 4 – Germany Forum
    • Leadership Program
      • Philosophy and Practice
      • Leadership in Times of Crisis
    • Public Program
      • 50 Years Aspen Germany
      • Ambassadors‘ Talk
      • Aspen Fireside Chats
      • Deep Dive Discussions
      • Event Series Road to Election Night & Beyond
      • Future of Food and Farming
      • Global Threats Series
      • International Press Roundtable
      • Publication Series Transatlantische Impulse
      • The Future of Ukraine
    • Transatlantic Program
      • Laboratories of Democracy Initiative
      • U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture
      • Future Cities Go Glocal
      • America’s Choice – Der USA-Podcast
      • Election Speaker Series
      • Election Night in Berlin 2024
      • Road to Election 2024
      • State-to-State: German-American State Legislator Dialogue
      • Future Cities – A Transatlantic Townhall Project
      • Transatlantic Agriculture Dialogue Tour
      • Berlin Transatlantic Forum
      • Bundestag and Congress Staffers Exchange Program
      • German-American Dialog
      • Trilateral Dialog with Parlamentarians from Germany, Russia, and the U.S.
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Support Aspen
    • Membership
    • Donation
  • Newsroom
  • Contact

Online Discussion “EU, International, and Domestic Affairs: What Lies Ahead for Bosnia and Herzegovina?”

    • April 14, 2021
  • -
    • June 20, 2025

On April 14, 2021 the Aspen Institute Germany hosted an online discussion on the topic “EU, International, and Domestic Affairs: What Lies Ahead for Bosnia and Herzegovina?” with Anida Šabanović, Director, Foreign Policy Initiative BH; Ambassador Johann Sattler, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Ambassador Susanne Schütz, Director for South-Eastern Europe, Turkey, OSCE and Council of Europe, German Federal Foreign Office. The discussion was moderated by Valeska Esch, Deputy Executive Director and Program Director Europe, Aspen Institute Germany.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a potential candidate for EU membership since 2003 and officially applied for EU membership in 2016. In 2019, the Commission identified 14 key priorities, including reforms in the areas of democracy/functionality, rule of law, fundamental rights, and public administration that need to be addressed in order to start EU accession negotiations. Currently, the EU accession process seems to have stalled. Corruption, cronyism, and ethnic divisions continue to challenge an already difficult governance system, which requires fundamental reform prior to a possible EU membership of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A prerequisite for the EU accession negotiations is a reform of the constitution to make the state functional and efficient again. However, a solution is currently nowhere in sight.
In order to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its reform path, Germany has nominated former Federal Minister Christian Schmidt, MP from the Christian Social Union, as the new head of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), which is responsible for the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, triggering debates about the general role of the OHR. Against this background, key points of the discussion were the election law reforms, the proposed constitutional reforms, the role of the OHR and other international actors, as well as overcoming ethnic and nationalistic divides.
During the discussion, it was mentioned that key priorities which need to be addressed in order to accelerate Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process should include rule of law, democracy and public administration. Some advances were also praised such as an electoral reform which led to the first democratic elections in Mostar in over a decade. However, nationalistic trends and ethnic tensions were regarded with apprehension and discussions of ethnic borders and secession were harshly criticized. The necessary electoral law reform including changes to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitution were viewed as an opportunity to improve democratic functions and civic participation of all citizens, however it was noted this could only be achieved through an inclusive and public national debate, with involvement of opposition, civil society, and academia. Above all, the importance of the international community in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region was noted, especially the roles of the EU, the OHR, the OSCE, and the United States. As growing influence from external actors undermining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Euroatlantic integration was viewed with trepidation, the speakers emphasized the need for a more dynamic collaboration with EU representatives and politicians and civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to ensure growth and stability for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region at large. 
The virtual discussion was part of the Aspen Berlin Policy Hub for think tanks from the Western Balkans, a project funded by the Open Society Foundations and the German Federal Press Agency.
For further information, the policy brief by the Foreign Policy Initiative BH on “Road Ahead for Bosnia and Herzegovina: New Opportunities or the Preservation of the Status Quo?” can be found here:

Contact

  • Tina Bories

  • Program Officer
  • Phone: +49 (0)30 804 890 46
  • bories@aspeninstitute.de
Das Logo des Aspen Institute Germany in der weißen Version
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
  • Imprint
  • Privacy Policy

Aspen Institute Deutschland e.V.

Friedrichstraße 60 | 10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 30 804 890 0
Email: info@aspeninstitute.de

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025