Last week was important for Bosnia and Herzegovina as the country has officially joined the Digital Europe Programme. This happened after the European Commission and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an agreement.

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market and Defence, and Edin Forto, the Minister of Communication and Traffic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed the document. Once approved, this agreement will apply from 1 January 2024. This means businesses, government agencies, and other organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina can now apply for funding from the Digital Europe Programme, which has a total budget of €7.5 billion for 2021-2027.

With this agreement, participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina can join European projects that use digital technologies. These projects focus on areas like artificial intelligence and advanced digital skills. They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in the country.

Joining the Digital Europe Programme will help strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s connection with the EU, improve its technology capabilities, and support the digital growth of its economy, especially benefiting small and medium-sized businesses. This partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the shared goals and values between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union in digital technology.

The funds from the Digital Europe Programme will add to the funding Bosnia and Herzegovina already gets from other EU programmes like Horizon Europe. More details on the objectives and specific areas eligible for funding are available in the Work Programmes.