SARAJEVO, 24 June – Organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina have participated in 25 project proposals under the EU Digital Europe Programme since joining in 2024, resulting in six signed grant agreements with a total EU contribution of €1.56 million, officials said on Tuesday at the event “Connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina to Digital Europe – From Information to Participation”, supported by the European Union and the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ) and jointly organised by the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina and GIZ.
The results illustrate the growing participation of stakeholders from Bosnia and Herzegovina in EU digital programmes and their increasing integration into European innovation and funding frameworks. They also reflect the practical benefits of EU instruments that support digital transformation and contribute to the broader European integration process.
Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications and Spokesperson for the Delegation of the European Union and the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina emphasised that the Digital Europe Programme is not only a financial instrument, but also a pathway towards deeper integration into the European Union’s Digital Single Market.
“We are already seeing encouraging results following Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry into the Digital Europe Programme, with six signed grants securing €1.56 million in EU funding. Two European Digital Innovation Hubs have been established, and institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina are participating in the European High Performance Computing network. These achievements demonstrate both the quality of expertise that exists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the ability of local stakeholders to contribute to shared European priorities”.
As Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina highlighted:
„Digital transformation is one of the key priorities of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina because it directly contributes to economic development, more efficient public services and greater opportunities for citizens and businesses. Participation in EU programmes such as this one enables our institutions, companies, research organisations and innovators to access knowledge, partnerships and funding that accelerates this transformation. The results achieved so far demonstrate both the potential that exists in our country and the importance of continued engagement with EU initiatives”.
Germany continues to play a key role as a long-standing development partner, supporting reforms and digital transformation through both strategic cooperation and technical assistance.
“We want to encourage companies across Bosnia and Herzegovina to make full use of the opportunities of digitalization, to build partnerships with European counterparts and to develop ambitious project proposals” said Arend MÜLLER Head of Econimic Affairs and Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Technical assistance remains an important enabler for participation in EU programmes. The EU for Digital Transformation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU4DT) project, jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ under the wider Sustainable Economic Development programme, provides targeted support for stakeholders in preparing applications, building consortia and navigating EU funding procedures.
“Successful participation in the Digital Europe Programme requires not only innovative ideas but also strong partnerships and the right capacities. Through the EU4DT project, we are supporting public institutions, academia and businesses in strengthening their competencies, building effective consortia, developing digital services and navigating EU funding opportunities. By expanding these capacities, we aim to enable more stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to actively contribute to and benefit from Europe’s digital transformation,” said Jens Elsner, Head of the SEDEP Programme at GIZ.
The event held in Sarajevo also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and was supported by the EU4Digital initiative, which contributes to digital transformation and the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the EU Digital Single Market.
Participants were introduced to funding opportunities, applicant support services and consortium-building tools, including cooperation through European Digital Innovation Hubs. The session demonstrated how EU funding can be translated into concrete results, drawing on experiences from successful projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The content was developed with support from FundingBox, which works with National Contact Points and European Digital Innovation Hubs across the region.
While Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process continues, participation in European programmes such as Digital Europe, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Creative Europe already delivers tangible benefits across the country, enabling institutions and organisations to access funding, build partnerships and strengthen skills and innovation capacities.
The National Contact Point network in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to provide guidance to potential applicants, while upcoming calls under the Digital Europe Programme will further expand opportunities, particularly in areas such as advanced digital skills, artificial intelligence and digital public services.
Through continued cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union and Germany, efforts remain focused on strengthening digital capacities, improving institutional readiness, and increasing participation in European innovation and funding frameworks.
