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European Union Support to Sustainable Management of Water Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina
EU4MEG
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 75% of the population has access to safely managed drinking water services through public water supply systems. However, water quality and accessibility vary significantly across settlements. In 2021, water losses frequently exceeded 55%, leading to shortages, overexploitation of water sources, and increased distribution costs. At the same time, only 41% of the population was connected to a public sewerage system, and 90% of collected wastewater was discharged untreated into rivers, causing severe environmental contamination. These challenges highlight the need for systemic improvements in water service management to ensure sustainability, efficiency, and equal access.
The legal framework governing water supply and wastewater management in Bosnia and Herzegovina is complex and fragmented. It includes entity-level laws on water, communal affairs, and local governance, as well as cantonal regulations in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. To comply with the EU acquis, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to harmonize policies and adopt clear plans for implementing EU legislation on drinking water, urban wastewater, and flood risk management.
Objective of EU4MEG
The overall objective of the European Union Support to Sustainable Management of Water Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU4MEG) is to enhance administrative capacities in the water management sector in line with the EU acquis and improve the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of water supply and wastewater services across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What we do
EU4MEG supports local and national institutions, as well as water utilities, in strengthening the management and delivery of water services through:
Conducting a stock-taking analysis to assess progress in the water services sector.
Developing a harmonized reform concept for the legal and institutional framework in the water services sector.
Establishing a country-wide benchmarking system for water utilities.
Supporting the development, institutionalization, and implementation of Public Service Agreements (PSAs) in partner local governments.
Conducting an affordability survey and introducing a gender-sensitive subsidy system for socially vulnerable users.
Assisting in the completion and revaluation of fixed assets, adopting water tariff-setting procedures, and promoting gender-sensitive employment policies in water utilities.
Enhancing the organizational structure and staffing of water utilities.
Improving the technical and management capacities of water utilities.
Strengthening financial management capacities in water utilities.
Identifying and selecting priority river sections for cleaning from plastic and other waste.
Expected Results
- Strengthened capacities of relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop policies and regulatory frameworks that advance water supply and wastewater management services, enabling a harmonized approach to reforms across the country.
- Enhanced local government capacities and partnerships with water utilities in 26 partner municipalities to deliver more effective, efficient, and inclusive water supply and wastewater services, directly benefiting at least 3,000 vulnerable citizens through improved access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services via a gender-sensitive subsidy system.
- Improved financial and operational performance of water utilities, reducing water losses and enhancing service sustainability, with an estimated 850,000 citizens in targeted municipalities experiencing better water management and infrastructure by 2024.
Donor
European Commission.
Partners
Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Justice, Republika Srpska Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, Republika Srpska Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, associations of municipalities and cities.
Focus area
Good Governance
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Impact
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