(Originally published on the University of Sarajevo website, 12 April 2023)

The international conference "Bosnia and Herzegovina: Constitution and EU Accession", which concluded the international project within the CEI Know-how Exchange Program, financed by the CEI Fund (EBRD), was held on April 12, 2023 in ceremonial hall of the University of Sarajevo.

The conference was opened by professor Rifat Škrijelj, rector of the University of Sarajevo, H.E. Marco Di Ruzza, Ambassador of Italy, and professor Amila Ždralović, vice dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo.

Professor Škrijelj pointed out the importance of the conferences that were organized to discuss the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the progress made by the country on its path to EU membership. “It is an opportunity to further explore the key values, principles, rights, and duties on which the BiH system composed of the various levels of government rests”, said Škrijelj hoping that this initiative could turn into a platform for a fruitful dialogue and an exchange of ideas that will contribute to a better understanding of the constitutional frame of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its path in the EU accession process".

Ambassador of Italy H.E. Marco Di Ruzza emphasized that the final conference is the confirmation of a constant virtupus cooperation between the Embassy of Italy and the University of Sarajevo, and added that he was particularly pleased that this project included universities and organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union.

In her opening speech, Professor Amelia Ždralović first of all thanked the working group of the Faculty of Law of the University of Sarajevo involved in the project, especially Professor Lejla Balić and lecturer Damir Banović. Ždralović then recalled that on 7 April the Faculty of Law celebrated its 77th anniversary. An exhibition was inaugurated on that occasion which, through a selection of scientific articles, tells the story of this important institution.

After the initial greetings, Professor Lejla Balić of the University of Sarajevo and Professor Jens Woelk of the University of Trento presented the guiding idea and the activities carried out within the framework of the project.

During the conference, the publication "Citizens. Constitutions. Europe – Glossary of the fundamental concepts of BiH constitutional law" was also presented.

The conference, organized by the Faculty of Law of the University of Sarajevo, was attended by representatives of all the universities and organizations involved in the project: Universities of Banja Luka, University of Mostar, University of Istočno Sarajevo, University of Milano-Bicocca, University of Trento, EURAC Bolzano, OBC Transeuropa, University of Graz, and University of Utrecht.

The project "Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Constitution and EU accession: an Accademic Platform for Discussing Options" was implemented within the Know How Exchsnge Programm of the Central European Initiative, focusing on the exchange of knowledge through a series of accademic workshops (Banja Luka, Mostar, Istočno Sarajevo) and the final conference in Sarajevo. The main objective of the project was to identify and analyze different models of constitutional reform that could be undertaken during the process of European integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina.