About the project
The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which entered into force in the form of Annex 4 to the Dayton Peace Agreement (hereinafter: the Dayton Constitution), is and has been one of the most controversial and sensitive political, legal and social issues in the State. Since 1995, numerous international and domestic academics and experts or institutions have analyzed, researched and criticized the Dayton Constitution. Given the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is involved in a process of integration into different European, international, supranational bodies, the Dayton Constitution must follow the dynamics of the country’s evolution, offer the necessary legal certainty and protection to citizens and peoples, and serve as a support to their further development. The constitutional reform process thus appears to be imminent and constant.
The Dayton Constitution has been analyzed from different points of view. For different reasons, many of these valuable works have not been available to all relevant factors or have not had the sufficient echo which they ought to have had. On the other hand, the constitutional system of Bosnia and Herzegovina is undergoing changes, which are in the genuine interest of all its citizens.
The objective of and the main motive behind the project of “THE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM IN BIH” is the development of a web portal which will serve as a long-term platform making it possible for one to obtain all relevant available information, expertise, analyses and other important documents regarding the Constitution and constitutional issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project shall be implemented in cooperation of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Sarajevo Branch Office) and The European Academy Bolzano, Sarajevo Representative Office (EURAC). The Council of Europe – Sarajevo Field Office fully supports and welcomes this project.
The most important project objectives are as follows:
- Development of a scientifically focused web portal, which will allow all the interested experts, analysts, specialists and institutions to take part in an online debate on the Dayton Constitution;
- Promotion of a maximum transparency of the constitutional debate and involvement of a civil society, particularly after the general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina held on October 3, 2010;
- Contribution to a broader debate on the constitutional reform process through examining specific constitutional issues (for example, options for the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Sejdić and Finci versus Bosnia and Herzegovina);
- Creation of a collection and a systematical order, classification and categorization of all valuable and relevant documents, information and expertise related to the Dayton Constitution;
- Provision of articles, press releases and an important bibliography of books relating to the Constitution and constitutional reform processes in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Enhancement of the research of the constitutional issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina for academics, legal professionals, political representatives, civil society etc.
Considering its advantages, such as unlimited time capacity and flexibility in terms of the given social, political or constitutional reality, the Portal should always be up-to-date, and thus become a “living instrument” adjustable to new situations.
We hope that our team of national and international experts, who have enthusiastically developed and, with a great deal of positive energy, implemented the idea of the web portal, shall be able to attain the objectives set by the Project and, in interaction with you, widen and deepen our objectives, to mutual satisfaction.
Nedim Ademović, dr. iur.
