Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
European section of United Cities and Local Governments


Home / Members / Members map / Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federal state divided into two entities, the Republic of Srpska (RS) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Brcko District, which has been ascribed a special district status that falls outside of the jurisdiction of the Republic of Srpska. The Republic of Srpska is composed of municipalities (opština) while the Federation BiH is composed of municipalities (općina) and cantons (kantoni).
Local level: 55 municipalities and 9 cities in the Republic of Srpska, 74 municipalities and 6 cities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Brcko District
Municipalities and cities (gradovi), also called local self-government units, are both executive and legislative authorities.

The municipal assembly (skupština opštine/općinsko vijeće) is the local authority's decision and policy-making body. It is made up of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years. The municipal assembly notably adopts the municipal budget and can appoint or dismiss members of the municipality or city's permanent and non-permanent working bodies.

The mayor (načelnik opština/općina in municipalities and gradonačelnik in cities) is the executive head of the local authority. He/she is elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years. The mayor can put forward draft legislative proposals to the municipal assembly. He/she also implements local policy, has responsibility for the execution of the municipal budget and enforces national laws and regulations to be implemented at the local tier.

There are some exceptions with regard to certain mayoral elections. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Mayor of Mostar and the Mayor of Sarajevo are not directly elected. Instead, they are elected by the cities' assemblies. Since February 2020, in the Republic of Srpska, the mayor of the city of East Sarajevo has been elected by the citizens in direct general elections for a period of four years.

Competences:

Cities and municipalities are the key providers of essential public and social services.
. Economic development
. Spatial and urban planning
. Social care
. Civil protection
. Environment
. Heating
. Local roads
. Sewage and solid waste disposal
. Water
. Culture and tourism
. Housing
. Pre-school
. Sports
. School building maintenance
. School bus transportation
. Ambulance services
. Health care supplies

Note:

Cities and municipalities are encouraged by existing local government laws to establish companies, institutions and other organisations so as to help manage, finance and improve local infrastructures and services.
Regional level: 10 cantons (kanton or županija)
Cantons, which have their own regional government, are federal units within the entity of the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All cantons are ethnically mixed and thus have special laws so as to ensure equality amongst all citizens.

The premier (premijer) is at the head of the canton. He/she is assisted in his/her duties by a number of cantonal ministries, agencies and services.

Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Director: Vesna Travljanin
Savez Općina i Gradova Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine
Musala 5/I, 71000 Sarajevo
Tel.: +387 33 216 502 or 552 810
Fax: +387 33 216 502 or 552 811
E-mail: savez@sogfbih.ba
Web: www.sogfbih.ba
Association of Local Authorities of Republic of Srpska
Secretary General: Aco PANTIć
Savez Opština i Gradova Republike Srpske
Nikole Tesle 6, 76300 Bijeljina
Tel.: +387 55 220 270
Fax: +387 55 211 885
E-mail: info@alvrs.com
Web : www.alvrs.com
Développez vos ventes : conseil marketing Organisation - Audit, conseil, coaching, formation référencement sur Google de site Internet - Audit, conseil, coaching, formation Référencement naturel sur Google, SEO