The Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Directorate for European Integration (DEI) of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office (PARCO) and the British Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina announce the forthcoming opening of the Call for applications to the EU Scheme for Young Professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUSYP BiH) – Round I.

This Action aims at assisting BiH in developing a professional, de-politicised and merit-based service system by providing professional development and mobility to the next generation of civil servants who will be in charge of the EU accession process and lead change during the enlargement process. Selected civil servants will benefit of two tailored-made executive online training programmes organised and implemented by the College of Europe (Bruges Campus – Belgium), which would suit both to profiles of the participants and the needs of the BiH administrations, and a one-week study visit in Belgium to EU institutions dealing with EU Accession and PAR in WB6 (to be organised in 2021 if the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic will allow it), as well as Western Balkans mobility programme (one-week) and an intra-BiH exchange programme (2 two-weeks) – eight weeks in total.

The Action is managed by the Delegation of the European Union to BiH and implemented by the British Council. Applications will be open from 3 September until 20 September 2020.

Successful applicants will be offered the opportunity to attend two intensive executive trainings related to PAR and EU accession processes (two-weeks each) organised online by the College of Europe, as well as to participate at a one-week Study Visit in Belgium, one-week regional exchange programme in one country of WB6 and two weeks intra-BiH exchange programme. All these activities aim to foster mutual connections and mobility between these agents of change through facilitating intra-BiH exchange programme and Western Balkans mobility scheme.

EUSYP BiH aims at assisting PA in BiH in developing a professional, de-politicised and merit-based service system by providing professional development and mobility to the next generation of civil servants who will be in charge of the EU accession process and lead change during the enlargement process.

It focuses on building professional capacity and preparing the next generation of public administrators and policymakers in BiH who will be in charge of the accession process, and drive and lead future change in their societies, particularly those required under the SAA implementation and accession negotiation process. In addition, the general aim is to foster mutual connections and mobility between these agents of change through facilitating intra-BiH exchange programme and Western Balkans mobility scheme.

The EUSYP BiH Round I, whose working language is only English, will offer up to 25 places (the actual number of grants awarded may also be less depending on the suitability of candidates). Young civil servants from all levels of the Governments in BiH are encouraged and eligible to apply. Eligibility criteria:

• BiH citizens enjoying full political and civil rights.
• Civil servants with one to seven years of professional experience in the area of EU integration/accession in PA.
• University graduates holding a valid BA and/or MA/MSc degree.
• Fluent in English with at least an upper-intermediate level (B2).
• Available to attend the two (2) online executive trainings for four (4) weeks in total (2 weeks each), to travel abroad for a one (1) week study visit in Belgium in 2021, to be part of the two (2) week intra-BiH exchange and the one (1)-week regional exchange (8 weeks in total).

The final announcement of the Call for applications and the detailed Rules of Procedures will be published on the project’s website on 3 September 2020.

The programme will cover the following costs for up to 25 participants:

  • tuition fees for the two online executive trainings offered by the College of Europe
  • accommodation and living allowances in Belgium during the Study Visit in 2021
  • health insurance and flight tickets during the Study Visit
  • Aptis English language test costs
  • intra-BiH exchange and Western Balkans mobility programme costs (travel, food and lodging)