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The Republic of Srpska Representation in Brussels became operational in 2009. Our aim is to establish, improve and maintain corespondence with the EU Institutions, various European regional representation offices in Brussels as well as other Brussels-based international and domestic actors. 

Srpska in Brussels

The Republic of Srpska is dedicated to European accession and further integration into the European Union. The decision to open a Representation office in Brussels represent significant step in that direction.
   The Republic of Srpska is a region in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is one of the two semi-autonomous entities that make up the country. Srpska covers 49% of the country’s territory and has approximately 1.35 million inhabitants. The Republic of Srpska is situated in the southeast Europe and is at the crossroads between the major East-West communications routes (between Western Europe, Central Europe and Turkey) and the North-South routes (continental Europe and the Mediterranean).

The European Union fosters the concept of the multi-level governance and the regions of Europe play an important role in it. We recognized this importance, and just one year before establishing our Brussels office, the Repulic of Srpska became a member of the Assembly of European Regions – an organization that brings together 260 regions from Europe and 13 inter-regional organizations. During the years we expended our presence in many sectors and fields, promoting our political, economic and tourism interests.

 

The Republic of Srpska firmly believes that regions are the building blocks of democracy and prosperity in Europe. Regions are close to its citizens who live and they are in the best position to understand citizens needs and to meet their economic and social demands.

 

These are the very foundations that allowed the Republic of Srpska to become a member of Assembly of European Regions. The Republic of Srpska is dedicated to the promotion of regionalism and further institutionalization of regional participation in European politics.

Our Brussels office is primarily focused on the following activities: 

 

  • Promotion of the Republic of Srpska

  • Cooperation with other European regions and actors

  • Supporting Srpska in accessing EU financial assistance 

  • Assistance in capacity-building of Srpska's Institutions based on core European values

Meet our Brussels team: 

 Mr. Mario Đuragić, Head of Republic of Srpska Representation in Brussels 

 

Prior to being appointed as the Head of Representation, Mr. Đuragić worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2000-2008. During this period, he served in the Embassies of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Israel (Tel Aviv), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Argentina (Buenos Aires). Between 1996 and 2000 he worked for the Ministry of Interior of the government of the Republic of Srpska. He obtained his University degree in Belgrade, and also holds an MBA from the Southern California University, (from their campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

 Mr. Nemanja Malić, Advisor

 

Mr. Malić joins the Representation after working as a programme coordinator at Westminster Foundation for Democracy where he was supporting the implementation of WFD’s Western Balkans programme, specifically its work with the Network of Parliamentary Committees on Economy, Finance and European Integration of Western Balkans. Prior to that he has worked as a communication officer at the Embassy of Israel in Serbia and as a project manager at the International School of Protocol and Diplomacy in Brussels. He obtained his BA in Political Sciences-International Affairs from the University of Belgrade and he also holds an MA in European Studies, Transnational and Global Prospectives’ (MAES), from Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium.

Want to explore more about Srpska in International Affairs? 
SRPSKA ON EU PATH

 

​​Full membership in the European Union is one of strategic decisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Republic of Srpska as its integral part which would enable the country to secure its status within a stable economic and political community of united European nations but would also represent confirmation of successful and consistent application of the highest democratic standards and reforms.

 

The wish to join the European Union is based on the combination of economic, political and security motives and interests. Find out more.

EU ENLARGEMENT

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina - along with other Western Balkans countries – was identified as a potential candidate for EU membership during the Thessaloniki European Council summit in June 2003.

 

Since then, a number of agreements between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina have entered into force - visa facilitation and readmission agreements (2008), Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related issues (2008). The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) has been ratified and enters into force on 1 June 2015. Find out more.

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REPORTS TO THE UNSC

 

The Government of the Republic of Srpska, as a party to the agreements comprising the Dayton Accords, including the Agreement on the Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement set forth in Annex 10 thereto, provides reports to the United Nations Security Council. The purpose of the reports is to present to the Security Council the Government’s views with respect to important developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the way in which the Government believes the Security Council and other interested members of the international community can best support BiH going forward. Find out more.

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