Ensuring realistic and effective delivery of initiatives supporting the long-term inclusion and empowerment of Roma communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the central focus of this week’s session of the Board for Roma in Sarajevo.

The workshop, held on 18-19 November and jointly organised by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Europe and European Union’s Joint Programme Roma Integration III, provided an opportunity for Board members to review the operational plan for 2026 and to explore guidelines and examples of good practice in budgeting that responds to the needs of Roma communities.

Opening the workshop, BiH Assistant Minister for Human Rights and Refugees, Kemo Šarac, emphasised the importance of meeting the commitments made under the 2019 Declaration of Western Balkans partners on Roma integration within the EU enlargement process (the Poznań Declaration), along with other obligations linked to European integration. He noted that the operational plan is essential for prioritisation, advocacy and effective implementation aimed at achieving the full social inclusion of Roma.

Chairman of the Board for Roma, Nedžad Jusić, encouraged Board members to be ambitious in setting goals, precise in operational planning and responsible in budgeting. He stressed that members of the Roma community must be included in all relevant processes.

During the discussions, Dragana Jovanović Arijas, Project Officer for the Roma Integration – Phase III programme, presented examples of Roma-responsive budgeting that have proved successful across the Western Balkans. The aim of responsive budgeting, she noted, is to ensure that general socio-economic policies better reflect the needs of Roma communities and support the effective implementation of Roma inclusion goals.

The workshop’s discussions focused on key priorities in education, employment and housing. Board members outlined their planned activities for 2026, which include analysis and research, education and training initiatives, direct support to Roma, and awareness-raising activities for the general public.

This activity was supported by the Joint Programme Roma Integration III, co-financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.