MACRO PROJECTS

 

1. Expert teams for Citizenship, Property, and Movement of Goods, People and Capital
2. Free-trade zone and the mini-Schengen in the Dayton Triangle
3. The truth about the past, the foundation for the future
4. Bilateral Agreements in the Dayton Triangle – NGO Monitoring of the Signing, Ratification and Implementation and the Expert Assistance to their Drafting
5. Expert Elaboration on Unresolved Issues among the Countries Signatories to the Dayton Agreement – Property and Status Issues of Citizens
6. Improving Inter-parliamentary Cooperation between the Countries Signatories of the Dayton Agreement Using Experiences of the Nordic Model as Example
7. Free Movement of Labor Force between the Countries Signatories of the Dayton Agreement using Experiences of the Nordic Council as Example
8. Integrating Roma interests to the Sarajevo Housing
9. Twenty Years of The Dayton Agreement

1. Expert teams for Citizenship, Property, and Movement of Goods, People and Capital

Expert teams for the issues of citizenship, property, visa regime and the flow of people, goods and capital were established on the basis of the Zagreb conference’s conclusions. The expert teams finished their work in late April 2001 and made proposals in the field of national legislative systems and bilateral agreements, which were sent to the governments of all three countries. Some of the proposals were incorporated in bilateral agreements, adopted and soon afterwards, ratified. The experts’ views were presented at the second session of the Igman Initiative Council in Sarajevo.
The project was jointly implemented by the Center for Regionalism, the Forum of Democratic Alternative of BiH, and the Civic Committee for Human Rights.

1.1 Citizenship

The expert team also pointed out that all citizenship-related solutions must take into account the principle of protection of the unity of family and property, as well as the will of individuals who held an equal legal position in former Yugoslavia until the succession process. The solutions must also account for the fact that these individuals had at one time acquired and exercised many of their rights, which are now by and large endangered.

The experts called for the introduction and acceptance, whenever possible, of the practice of dual citizenship. They took into consideration the modern democratic practice of widespread acceptance of dual citizenship and the need to “bridge” the negative consequences in the aftermath of a collapsed state in which they once enjoyed equal legal rights, regardless of which particular republic citizenship the citizens held.

1.2 Property

The expert team for property issues concluded that the change in circumstances required a change in the existing regulations and practices vis-a-vis protection of property rights and other interests of citizens of former Yugoslavia who had been damaged by the collapse of the state. The solution of certain property-related issues requires bilateral or multilateral state agreements and a change in internal regulations and practices.

1.3 Movement of goods, people and capital

Since the joining of countries in the region to the European Union is a long-term matter, the interim should be utilized for integrative developments in the region. The Igman Initiate believes that this integration should be focused on the idea of economic integration.

With regard to visas, the need to liberalize the visa regimes was emphasized, including the eventual abolition of visas. If the FRY implements its intention to unilaterally abolish visas for citizens of Croatia, a reciprocal move by the Croatian Governments may well follow.

Regarding free movement of goods, the experts’ contend that the first phase of economic integration must consist of a free-trade zone. A good example of this is the existing agreement between Croatia and BiH, which could easily be expanded into a trilateral agreement.

This project was implemented by the Center for Regionalism, the Forum of Democratic Alternative of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Civic Committee for Human Rights and included representatives of the relevant ministries of the three countries and experts from the three NGOs, an unprecedented implementation team. This specific combination of people increased the likelihood that the three governments would create free trade, not only on paper, but also in practice.

Parallel to calling for the introduction of a free movement of people, goods and ideas in the Dayton Triangle, the experts asserted that future agreements on the establishment of a free-trade zone and the abolition of all types of visas must reflect the political orientation of the states towards a comprehensive development of bilateral and regional relations in southern Europe. Concrete solutions made by the expert groups include: create and agree to bilateral agreements as soon as possible; develop these bilateral agreements into multilateral ones, thus establishing a free-trade zone within the Dayton Triangle; draft a bilateral agreement between the FRY and the Republic of Croatia on the mutual abolition of visas.

In March 2002 representatives of the Igman Initiative handed over the experts’ observations to Vojislav Kostunica, President of the FRY, Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia, and Beriz Belkic, the chairman of the BiH Presidency. In Sarajevo, on March 18, 2002, Mr. Belkic said in talks with representatives of the Igman Initiative ”It is in the interest of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the FRY and Croatia to speed up their inclusion in European processes of integration through the establishment of a single economic area.” Shortly thereafter, the FRY unilaterally alleviated the visa regime for citizens of Croatia, and in mid- year the two states reciprocally abolished visas. In the first half of 2002, the Agreement on Free-Trade Zone was signed between the FRY and BiH and between Croatia and BiH. At the end of the year a similar agreement was signed by the FRY and Croatia. The experts of the Igman Initiative proposed that in the second phase these agreements come to fruition at multilateral level and that joint mechanisms for their implementation be devised. Efforts of this non-governmental Dayton Triangle movement are now directed at such initiatives.
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2. Free-trade zone and the mini-Schengen in the Dayton Triangle

Events influencing, directly or indirectly, relations in southeastern Europe (SEE) and the EU, as well as international economic relations in a wider sense, only confirm the necessity of the Free Trade Zone project, adopted at the Igman Initiative plenary session upon the motion of experts.
In accordance with the plenary session decision adopted in Dubrovnik in October 2001, the experts worked out proposals that could lead to further development of trade in the SEE;
One of the starting points in drawing up those proposals is a conclusion that exchange between the SEE countries is far behind the actual needs of the region and its current and particularly potential capacities;
Measures to increase exchange between countries take very long to be introduced. Interests of the region require the entire process of creating favourable conditions for the development of trade and employing other instruments of region economic linking to be significantly accelerated, both with regard to the implementation of already introduced measures and the adoption of new ones. A Memorandum obligation that all countries of the region conclude bilateral treaties on free trade by the end of 2002, is to be implemented entirely and as soon as possible. That initiative, however, is only an important step in the process of establishing a Free Trade Zone in the entire SEE region and in further economic connecting the countries of the region. That is also in accordance with the latest intentions of the Stability Pact for SEE to initiate establishing a region-wide network upon the conclusion of bilateral treaties on free trade;
Meanwhile, a number of measures that would stimulate development of trade in the region, and particularly among the three countries in question (Croatia, BiH, the FRY) should be taken. For that reason, the following proposals are given to the governments of BiH, Republic of Croatia and FRY:
Three bilateral treaties on free trade should be harmonized and a mechanism for monitoring the realization of the bilateral treaties established in the triangle BiH, Croatia, and the FRY;
Possible non-tariff obstacles in trade should be eliminated;
Possible practical problems in trade are to be identified;

Special consulting mechanisms in the realization of a free trade treaties with other countries and for exchanging experience in the realization of the “Memorandum on Understanding and Trade Liberalization” of the SEE countries should be introduced;

Periodical consultations on experience in cooperation (trade) with the EU, and on WTO activities should be introduced;

Monitoring and constant upgrading of the work of mechanisms for technical cooperation among the competent bodies of the three countries are to be carried out in the following spheres: standards and technical regulations, quality regulations and accreditation systems, veterinary and sanitary regulations, customs cooperation and rules on origin, competition, intellectual property, cooperation of agencies for the promotion of export and foreign investments.
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3.The truth about the past, the foundation for the future

The Igman Initiative established an expert group with the goal to prepare a model of reconciliation between the three Dayton Triangle states. The following prominent figures are advising this expert group, including: Zivorad Kovacevic, Ivan Vejvoda, Jadranka Jelincic, Srdjan Dvornik, and Zdravko Grebo. Alex Boraine, a well-known architect of the South-African model of reconciliation, is a supporter and a consultant to this group.

The following facts were taken into account in devising this project:
Past efforts to establish national truth and reconciliation commissions have not proved successful either in attaining the desired objective or in creating a global model of reconciliation. In addition, the achieved results are merely partial solutions and are unsatisfactory.
Despite achieving commendable results, past models of reconciliation (South African, German-French, Chilean and others) cannot automatically be transferred to this region. Each of these situations is a case sui generis and requires an original model of reconciliation.
All past efforts to initiate a process of attaining the truth and reconciliation were developed at national level only, ignoring the fact that the war had involved three sides. These three sides were obliged to come together to participate in establishing the truth on the war and in attaining reconciliation.

Bearing mind the above-mentioned facts, the fifth session Igman Initiative participants concluded that it was necessary to launch the creation of the model of reconciliation at tripartite level within the movement. The operational implementation of this conclusion is a task of the Center for Regionalism from Novi Sad, the Citizens’ Forum of Tuzla and the Civic Committee for Human Rights from Zagreb.

In September 2003 an expert group was set up which is to work on the implementation of this project. The first meeting of the expert group took place toward the end of September 2003, where members agreed on the work methodology. The members also noted that the task they were undertaking was a significant one that would require at least two years. Therefore members would not convey unrealistic hopes for a fast reconciliation process to the public, as such hopes would only cause damage to the whole endeavor. The Igman Initiative, learning from mistakes of past commissions, has set realitic goals and timetables that they will share with the public in an effective and appropriate manner.
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4. Bilateral Agreements in the Dayton Triangle – NGO Monitoring of the Signing, Ratification and Implementation and the Expert Assistance to their Drafting

Eight years after the signing of the Dayton Agreement, despite the obvious progress in the normalization of mutual relations, the number of bilateral agreements signed between Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia and Montenegro does not exceed a dozen (in normal state relations, a couple of hundred of agreements are signed and ratified). There is much work to be done by institutions of each of the countries in the years to come.

Since the governments of these countries still do not have enough capacity to accelerate the process themselves, they could benefit greatly from the assistance of NGOs. Thus the participants of fifth session of the Igman Initiative determined that the movement would provide expert technical assistance to the drafting and adopting of bilateral agreements. The project implementation is a responsibility of the Democratic Alternative of BiH, the Civic Committee for Human Rights and the Center for Regionalism, which have established an expert team consisting of six persons. This expert team is responsible for screening the current situation regarding the agreements that have already been signed and ratified. On the basis of its findings, the team will offer to the governments of the three states drafts of approximately thirty new agreements, which should be signed to solve some immediate issues.

After Bulletin No.1, expert groups prepared and issued Bulletin No.2, which was introduced to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic, as to the relevant Ministers in Croatia and B&H. Bulletin No.2 contens 6 new Agreement proposals.
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5. Expert Elaboration on Unresolved Issues among the Countries Signatories to the Dayton Agreement – Property and Status Issues of Citizens

The project was funded by the EU Enlargement Directorate General based in Brussels and implemented by the Igman Initiative in 2012. As part of the project activities an independent expert team was assigned with a task of providing recommendations for feasible solutions to citizens’ status and property issues by conducting a comparative analysis of international obligations, standards and norms and legal frameworks of the countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement.In addition, the experts from relevant ministries in all four countries were involved in the research. At the beginning of the project, on the occasion of 22nd session of the Igman Initiative, the presidents of the countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement, signed a Joint Statement Partnership for European Future of the Region in support of developing mutual relations in a manner as to assist others in meeting necessary requirements for full membership of the EU. In the course of month June, co-presidents of the Igman Initiative handed the White Paper with recommendations to the prime ministers as well as representatives of the relevant ministries, parliamentary committees and international community in all four countries. The Igman Initiative co-presidents also met with the officials of the EU Delegation in all four countries to present the expert team findings and discuss further project implementation. Aside from the expert research, issuance of the White Paper as well as lobbying campaign, the project encompassed an all-inclusive regional public and media campaign including a production and broadcast of a documentary film, TV debates as well as public discussions in all four countries.

Project outcomes:

  • Involved governments of the countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement in resolving status and property issues of the citizens of these countries that emerged after the collapse of the SFRY,

  • Included the international community in the process of resolving status and property issues of the citizens of the countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement,

  • The public was made sensitive to the issue in order to get its support for resolving problems the project is dealing with,

  • Aid and support was provided to the citizens of the countries of the Dayton agreement in the enforcement of their status and property rights.

Project results:

  • A report drawn up by the expert team to determine the actual circumstances and problems in the area of property and status rights of the citizens in the countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement and provided recommendations for their solving,

  • Evaluated different political options available to decision-makers in the region and discussed political activities which could improve the current state of affairs in the area of status and property rights of the citizens of B-H, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia,

  • Raised awareness of problems encountered by the citizens in the four countries of the Dayton Agreement in exercising their status and property rights through a regional campaign launched by the Igman Initiative,

  • Launched an initiative aimed at the involvement of the governments of the countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement in resolving status and property problems of citizens, which will result in a progress in the elimination of the existing barriers and an evident acceleration of the process of resolving these issues which would directly benefit approximately half a million of persons in the subject countries.

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6. Improving Inter-parliamentary Cooperation between the Countries Signatories of the Dayton Agreement Using Experiences of the Nordic Model as Example

General goal of the project was transfer of positive experiences and good practice of the Nordic Council as well as devising appropriate model of cooperation for the signatory countries to the Dayton Agreement through institutionalization of inter-parliamentary cooperation. The implementation of the project started in June 2012 with a round-table held in Podgorica, on the occasion of which the Nordic model of cooperation was presented to competent political figures, i.e. representatives of the parliaments and other competent government institutions from the four countries. Aside from the round-table a press conference was held for the purpose of presenting to the wider public the possibility of applying the good practice of the Nordic Council to the countries of the Western Balkans. Round-tables and press conferences were also organized in Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo for the same purpose.

After the promotion of the Nordic model of cooperation at the round-tables the Igman Initiative organized a consultation meeting, on February 18th 2013 in Sarajevo, with the participation of the representatives of foreign policy boards, offices for EU integrations and parliamentary friendship groups from Dayton Agreement signatory countries. The aim of this meeting was to summon MPs to indetify spheres and types of cooperation which have the priority at this moment, as well as to advise the expert group that works on the model of improvement of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the four countries based on Nordic experiences. At the end of the meeting the participants agreed that it is the best interest of the citizens of the four countries for the cooperation to be intensified in the following areas: free movement of labor force, environment protection, energy, economy and culture.

On February 19th 2013, Presidents of foreign policy committees from the four countries, together with members of the Igman Initiative expert team, made a study visit to the Nordic Council and the Parliament of Denmark in Copenhagen. Purpose of the visit was to broaden the understanding of knowledge and opportunities drawn from experiences of the Nordic model in the process of achieving the highest level of regional cooperation between the four states (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia), as well as to obtain direct insight in the work the Danish Parliament. With all the insights obtained through this visit, consultative meeting in Sarajevo and all previous activities, expert team of Igman Initiative approached the work on development of a proposal for a model of improvement of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the four countries.

On May 10th 2013, in the Serbian National Assembly, a meeting between the vice presidents of the parliaments of the Dayton Agreement signatory countries was convened on the occasion of which the participants discussed the Nordic model of cooperation and the prospects of its application within the framework of the Igman Initiative expert team findings and recommendations. After greeting the participants, the President of the Serbian National Assembly stated that it is imperative for the countries of our region to establish a level of cooperation akin to cooperation among the Nordic countries for the benefit of all citizens. It is necessary for us to disentangle from the past, just as the Nordic countries previously engaged in conflicts did, while today they enjoy a level of regional cooperation only to be regarded by other countries. Mr. Stefanovic emphasized the level of respect for differences as well as the demonstration of political will for cooperation, both of which the countries of our region should aspire.

Meeting between the four Igman Initiative co-presidents and the presidents of the parliaments of Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on June 10th at the Parliament of the Republic of Srpska for the purpose of presenting the findings of the Igman Initiative expert team and adoption of their recommendations.

The project was financed by the Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade. As a result of efforts made within the framework of this project the Igman Initiative started working on improving inter-parliamentary cooperation in the area of free movement of labor force.
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7. Free Movement of Labor Force between the Countries Signatories of the Dayton Agreement using Experiences of the Nordic Council as Example

With support from the Danish Embassy, at the beginning of 2014, the Igman Initiative set off the implementation of the project Free Movement of Labor Force between the Countries Signatories of the Dayton Agreement Using the Experiences of the Nordic Model of Cooperation. A diverse expert team was established consisting of independent experts and the representatives of competent government institutions from the four countries, with the task to analyze legislative framework as well as bilateral agreements concluded between the four countries in order to find the most effective model for regulating free movement of labor force and establishing regulatory framework of labor market, using the experiences of the Nordic model. As the experts needed to gain more insight into the functioning of the Nordic model of cooperation in this area the Igman Initiative organized study visit to the Nordic Council Headquarters in Copenhagen at the end of May 2014. After the expert group concluded the first phase of their research a consultative session was organized on May 20th 2014 at the Parliamentary Assembly of B&H, on the occasion of which the representatives of competent parliamentary committees and government institutions from the four countries reviewed the expert team report.

Lobby and public advocacy campaign was organized during September and October 2014 in all four countries. On this occasion, co-presidents of the Igman Initiative met with the high ranking officials of the ministries responsible for labor market policy and parliaments of the four countries, as well as with the representatives of the EU Delegation offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. Lobby campaign was conducted for the purpose of influencing key decision and policy makers in all four countries to adopt the recommendations of the expert team and consequently create a standing platform for the following: establishment of a standing inter-parliamentary body in the area of labor and social affairs; improvement of labor force legislation in four countries for the purpose of securing free movement of labor force between the four countries; and elimination of grey zone in this area, i.e. unreported employment, which directly affects the government’s ability to fund resources (government spending) by creating a tax gap. It also affects the workers who are deprived of realizing their rights related to labor (health insurance, social security, pension, etc).

Recommendations of the Igman Initiative expert team received positive response from high ranking government officials in all four countries as they expressed their hopes that the efforts of the Igman Initiative will result in harmonization of national legislation and conclusion of bilateral agreements, enabling free movement of labor force between the four countries, as it is in the best interest of the citizens of this region. What is more, during a meeting with Igman Initiative co-president for Croatia Zoran Pusic the Minister for Labor and Pension System of the Republic of Croatia offered to invite his counterparts from other three countries to participate in a conference, to take place in March 2015 in Croatia, during which the Igman Initiative expert recommendations will be presented and agreement on their further implementation reached and made official.

On November 28th 2014 the Igman Initiative organized a consultative session in Podgorica covering the topic of free movement of labor force between the countries signatories of the Dayton Agreement. The session was organized within the framework of 63rd Plenary Session of the Committee on Health, Labor and Social Welfare of the Parliament of Montenegro. Aside from the Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro and the leadership of the Igman Initiative the session was attended by the chairmen of competent parliamentary committees as well as representatives of competent ministries from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

After a discussion the participants unanimously agreed to support the expert team report and recommendations and to further work on their implementation. Representatives of competent parliamentary committees decided to conduct quarterly meetings during which phases of work of the expert group will be monitored, suggestions will be provided for the purpose of improving their recommendations, and assessment of other issues of concern will be carried out. Competent ministries from the four countries approved to delegate one representative who will, along with the Igman Initiative experts and the representatives of parliament, work on concrete implementation of the adopted recommendations. The participants have agreed that the next meeting with the Igman Initiative experts and the representatives of the four parliaments will be organized in the first quarter of next year at Croatian Parliament, at the invitation of the Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Pension System and Social Partnership of Croatian Parliament.
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8. Integrating Roma interests to the Sarajevo Housing Process

Within the framework of the project Integrating Roma interests to the Sarajevo Housing, which commenced in January 2014, the expert team worked on mapping and documenting Roma refugees, determining their housing needs as well as drafting recommendations for finding housing solutions within the Regional Housing Programme (RHP). After a comparative analysis of the documents obtained from government bodies and data obtained from Roma rights organizations, and after the outlining of independent expert reports on state of affairs in this area the Igman Initiative organized round-tables in all four countries with the aim to support the authorities in their efforts to permanently resolve housing issues of Roma refugee.

During September and October of 2014 co-presidents of the Igman Initiative met with the representatives of the institutions responsible for implementation of the RHP in the countries signatories of the Dayton Agreement to address the issues that Roma refugees and IDPs in all four countries face with regards to their housing needs. Target group of the lobby campaign were also the representatives of the OSCE and the UNHCR in all four countries, as they have been tasked with helping to identify eligible beneficiaries, monitoring their selection and ensuring that they receive adequate protection.

The report of the Igman Initiative expert team indicated that due to twofold disadvantage that derive from displacement/exile and belonging to minority community Roma refugees and IDPs have been recognized as a special disadvantaged category which encounters numerous obstacles in exercising its guaranteed rights and is in need of additional assistance regarding housing care.

For the purpose of improving their position in all four countries and ensuring their participation in the RHP the Igman Initiative expert team outlined the following key recommendations:

  • Public calls announced within the RHP should be adjusted to meet genuine housing needs of the final beneficiaries, especially Roma refugees and IDPs.

  • Due to the fact that Roma refugees and IDPs are poorly informed about the RHP, as well as open calls announced within its framework, competent institutions should design comprehensive media campaigns adjusted to the specific living conditions of Roma population, giving advantage to direct communication in the localities of their placement as opposed to providing information via national and local media outlets and message boards at competent institutions.

  • During the process of applying for housing within the framework of the RHP Roma refugees and IDPs should be provided with free legal aid and assistance in obtaining requested documents.

  • Governments of the four countries should take active measures aimed at preventing segregation and ghettoization of Roma refugees and IDPs within the RHP.

The representatives of competent government bodies and international community assessed the Igman Initiative expert report as highly valuable for the reason that it contains data on territorial density of Roma refugees and IDPs as opposed to official lists lacking data of final beneficiaries of the RHP based on their ethnicity. Moreover, the expert report provides a set of recommendations that could improve the implementation of the RHP in all four countries and prevent discrimination of Roma refugees and IDPs as the most vulnerable category within refugee population.

During the five last moths of the project implementation the expert team of the Igman Initiative, as well as organizations gathered around it, conducted campaign aimed at providing free legal aid and assistance in obtaining documents to Roma refugees and IDPs in all four countries. During the campaign about 200 persons were helped with regards to their housing issues and application process.

Project Integrating Roma Interests to the Sarajevo Housing Process is being implemented with support from the Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI) from Budapest.

9. Twenty Years of The Dayton Agreement

At the beginning of July of 2015 the Igman Initiative started with the implementation of the project Twenty Years of the Dayton Agreement, with support from the Balkan Trust for Democracy. The project was initiated for the purpose of opening of the dialogue focused on solving remaining open issues between four countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement, advancing the process of EU integration of the region, as well as promoting political options that would lead to coherent and decentralized Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a prerequisite of the stability of the entire region.

The project was launched at the conference organized in Podgorica on July 4th, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro. Conference gathered about 60 participants – representatives of competent government bodies, civic sector, international community, experts and media. It also received wide media coverage. The main conclusion of the participants was
that the focus should be on counteracting the forces that aim to keep the region burdened with the issues of the nineties. They also recognized the potential of citizens joining forces region-wide to resolve all inherited issues. Facing the past is unfinished business in the region and much more needs to be done regarding a more coordinated approach to this issue and determining the truth of the past.

Conference in Belgrade was organized on September 29th 2015, and was attended by about 50 participants – primarily representatives of international community, civic sector and media. The main speakers at the conference, among others, were Oskar Benedict, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Michael Uyehara, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, and Marina Jovicevic, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
The main conclusion from the conference in Belgrade was that the EU is an important driving factor of regional processes, and that the EU, as well as the international community, needs to be fully involved in the resolution of the retrograde processes which has been dragging the region backwards. This region has always been stricken by much larger geo-political games.   The event received wide coverage in media including B92, N1 and Radio Free Europe.

Conference in Zagreb was organized on October 29th with participation of representatives of civic sector and some of the most competent political analysts in the Western Balkans (total of 40 participants). The event received no media coverage. Nevertheless, the conference was significant for the reason that it provided the Igman Initiative experts with the views and opinions of prominent individuals, which was crucial in drafting the Policy Paper Twenty Years of the Dayton Agreement. One of the conclusions from the conference was that Bosnia should be an integrated and decentralized state. As such, it will act as the connective tissue of the Western Balkans. Otherwise, unstable Bosnia means constant potential threat to stability in the Western Balkans.

Policy Paper was produced in November 2015 as a result of three conferences aforementioned. During those conferences opinions, knowledge and assessments of the experts in this area were gathered, evaluated and then latter integrated into the final text of the Policy Paper.

Policy Paper was presented at the 25th Igman Initiative session, held in Sarajevo on December 12th 2015, with participation of the representatives of international community, competent government bodies, civic sector and academia from all four countries signatories to the Dayton Agreement. The main topic of the session was Dayton Agreement and the Region – 20 Years Later –Further Prospects of the Western Balkans. Aside from that, the Igman Initiative celebrated its 15th anniversary.

The following subtopics were also discussed at the session:  Refugee crisis and new challenges for the region and the EU, Terrorism and extremism as the sources of instability, Presentation of Igman Initiative projects realized between two sessions, and Prospects of further engagement of the Igman Initiative. The following renowned individuals attended the session, among others: Maureen Cormack, U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Renzo Daviddi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to B-H, Ivo Komšić, Mayor of Sarajevo, Budimir Loncar, the last Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former SFRY, Zlatko Dizdarevic, journalist and former diplomat. The session was important for pointing out the area of spreading regional cooperation as a precondition and an important criterion of European integration for this region. Also, a group of relevant stakeholders was summoned and stimulated in finding solutions to all open issues in the area of bilateral and multilateral relations between those countries.

Conclusions from 25th Igman Initiative session will be utilized in further lobby campaign to be organized at the end of January of 2016 in all four countries. As part of the lobby campaign the co-presidents of the Igman Initiative will visit the ministers for foreign affairs in four countries to advocate for joint solutions reached by the EU and governments, as well as active bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the region, as an indispensable precondition for the overcoming of the crises, including the current refugee one. Governments in the region should speed up their efforts towards the establishment of the highest possible ownership over joint initiatives and actions, on the basis of the approach that has been implemented within the Berlin Process, among others.
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