The European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption (APIK) have successfully concluded a two-year twinning project aimed at strengthening APIK's institutional capacities and its role in coordinating anti-corruption policies. The project, whose key partners were the National Anti-Corruption Authority of Italy (ANAC) and the Special Investigation Service of Lithuania (STT), was formally closed in Sarajevo on 9 June 2026.
Over the past two years, intensive cooperation with experts from Italy and Lithuania supported reform processes and BiH's European integration path. The project delivered over 30 different types of documents, including methodologies and guidelines, and provided specialised training to more than 100 civil servants in BiH. A new Communication Strategy was also adopted to modernise and increase transparency.
At the closing event, ANAC President Giuseppe Busia stressed that fighting corruption is a collective and ongoing effort requiring international cooperation, noting that the EU recently adopted a new Anti-Corruption Directive recognising that further progress is both possible and necessary. STT Deputy Director Elanas Jablonskas highlighted that Lithuania itself benefited from international support twenty years ago and is now proud to share its experience with BiH, adding that building effective anti-corruption institutions is a long-term process requiring leadership, professionalism and sustained commitment.
APIK Deputy Director Damirka Mioč said the project provides clear guidelines for alignment with EU and international standards while improving the cooperation network among all anti-corruption stakeholders. Karel Lizerot, Head of Section for Good Governance of the EU Delegation to BiH, emphasised that strengthening APIK's institutional framework, independence and effectiveness will be essential for the Agency to fully assume its role within BiH's anti-corruption architecture. He added that lasting progress depends on domestic ownership, adequate resources, political commitment and consistent implementation of reforms.
The project was designed to transfer best practices from EU member states and achieve sustainable results. APIK Project Leader Jelena Turanjanin stated that the project laid a solid and practical foundation for improving the Agency's work, proving that APIK has the capacity and a clear vision to lead proactive anti-corruption measures.
Impact on stakeholders For APIK, the project delivers concrete tools and methodologies to strengthen its preventive and coordination functions, though its long-term effectiveness will depend on continued political will and resources. EU institutions gain a tangible deliverable in BiH's rule-of-law reform track, supporting the country's European integration process. Civil servants in BiH benefit from enhanced training and clearer anti-corruption guidelines. The broader public stands to gain from increased transparency and more effective corruption prevention, but progress remains conditional on sustained domestic commitment and adequate funding.
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