In accordance with the reform documents of the PARCO in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the modernization of the administrative procedure in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues towards “the central basis for ensuring the efficiency, effectiveness and predictability of public administration in the provision of public services”.
In the Law on Amendments to the Law on Administrative Procedure (“Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, No. 61/22) in Article 4, it is explained that Article 63 paragraph (2) of the Law on Administrative Procedure (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 2/98 and 48/99), after the word “in writing”, adds the words: “or in the form of an electronic document created in accordance with a special law”.
After paragraph (2), new paragraphs (3) and (4) are added, and they state: Authorities and parties, i.e. persons authorized to represent the parties may communicate with each other in electronic form, if the parties, i.e. persons authorized to represent the parties, agree to it (paragraph 3). Submissions submitted in electronic form with an electronic signature will be considered a handwritten signature in accordance with special regulations (paragraph 4).
Also, Article 11 of the Law on Amendments to the Law on Administrative Procedure (“Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, No. 61/22) envisages that Article 158 of the Law on Administrative Procedure (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 2/ 98 and 48/99) adds a new paragraph (4) which states: “When dealing with administrative proceedings, the parties must not be required to obtain certificates and other public documents about the facts on which administrative bodies and institutions from Article (1) paragraph (3) of this law keep official records. Information on these facts are obtained ex officio”.
“The PARCO in Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to initiate the modernization of administrative procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the strategic goal of the Strategy for Public Administration Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to ‘strengthen administrative decision-making as a key component of interaction between the administration and citizens’, i.e. parties, thereby helping to build a functional, reliable, efficient, transparent and responsible modern public administration aimed at the citizens it serves, but also as outlined in the Strategic Framework for Public Administration Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2022.,for the public administration to become a true “service” for citizens and better equipped for joining the European administrative area.
The PARCO will initiate and coordinate all further activities with all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the help and continued cooperation of the representatives of SIGMA.
We believe that this is good news for all entities, citizens, economic entities, non-governmental organizations and others, because it will make it easier, simpler and cheaper for them to communicate with the public administration in achieving their subjective rights and duties”, stressed the deputy State Coordinator prof. Dr. Ferid Otajagić.