SARAJEVO – Public Administration Reform Fund in BiH was established yesterday, which enabled usage of 4.5 million euros of donor resources for implementation of reform measures in this area.
Establishment of the Fund was preceded by signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Common Platform on principles and manner of implementation of the Action Plan 1 of the Strategy of the Public Administration Reform in BiH.
Memorandum was signed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Nikola Špirić, entity Prime Ministers Milorad Dodik and Nedžad Branković, Minister of Finances of BiH Dragan Vrankić, Mayor of the Brčko District Mirsad Đapo, and the Chief of the Mission of the European Commission in BiH Dimitris Kourkoulas, as well as the ambassadors of the donor countries Great Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands, Mathew Rycroft, Lars-Erik Vingren and Karel Foksuler. The High Representative, Miroslav Lajčak also attended the signing.
"I hope that we will achieve a goal of having a modern, transparent and expenditure wise efficient public administration, which will be a pillar of reforms on our way towards Euro Atlantic integrations", said Špirić.
Ambassador Kourkoulas pointed out that the EC will provide support in Public Administration Reform in BiH, but also to all other reforms important for the process of stabilisation and association with the EU.
"Public Administration Reform is a key element for good functioning of governments and an originator of the economic development of the country. This will have a direct positive impact on the lives of the BiH citizens", stressed Kourkoulas.
He pointed out that visible improvement has been achieved since May this year, when Nevenka Savić was appointed Public Administration Reform Coordinator, who will, with her associates, determine priorities in the strategy of this reform.
Kourkoulas stressed that the Fund of 4.5 million euros, allocated by the donors, will be managed by the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office in BiH.
"Strategy has been accepted last year by the governments, but the success of the Public Administration Reform in BiH will be achieved when this reform is implemented", said Kourkoulas.
Lajčak welcomed the signing of the Memorandum
The High Representative of the International Community in BiH, Miroslav Lajčak, welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on establishment of the Public Administration Reform Fund in Sarajevo, was the release yesterday from the OHR.
Lajčak estimated that the project of the Public Administration Reform presents a systematic attempt of improving functionality and professionalism in the work of the public administration on entity and the level of BiH, with a goal of accomplishing greater democratic accountability and improvement of services offered to the citizens.
"BiH is in need of better bodies of authority, and joint cooperation between state and entity governments, and the international community, shows that we can work together on achieving this goal", said Lajčak.