Bosnia and Herzegovina and P ublic P articipation in I nternational F orums 5 th Task Force Meeting on Public Participation in International Forums Geneve, Switzerland, 29 th June 2010 Senad Oprašić, PhD Head of Environmental Protection Department Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Tel/fax.:

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

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

Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina District Brčko Ministry of Security Ministry of Foreign Affairs BH GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Ministry of Civil Affairs Ministry of Finance and Treasury Ministry of Defence Ministry of Transport and Comunication 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 Ministry for Justice Ministry for Human Rights and Refugee 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 COP15 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 BiH NGOs attended through Danube Environmental Forum (NGOs from BiH members in DEF) and REC (formalized rules and procedures regarding public participation in decision-making) ICPDR – representatives of BiH NGOs attended through Danube Environmental Forum (NGOs from BiH members in DEF), formalized rules and procedures regarding public participation in decision-making ) EBRD - representatives of BiH 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