Political relations
There is a relatively intensive political dialogue between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina and compliance with the Dayton Political Framework are among the key interests for Serbia, since it wishes to see this nearest neighbour as a prosperous and stable cooperation partner. Dialogue with the Republika Srpska entity is intensive and ongoing at all levels: there are numerous joint projects, agreements on joint celebration of important historical dates for the Serbian peoples, while another important segment are also financial donations from Serbia to Republika Srpska.
There is an open call in 2021 for the MFA N. Selaković from MFA B. Turković to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina (we are expecting a new term from the B&H side). During 2020 the President of the House of Representatives of the PA of B&H N. Radmanović met the Chair of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dačić on 27 November in Belgrade; MFA of the Republic of Serbia N. Selaković met the DP of the Council of Ministers and MFA of B&H B. Turković on the side-lines of the ministerial meeting of SEECP on 6 November in Antalya; the Serbian member of the Presidency of B&H M. Dodik and DP of the PA of B&H D. Čović met the President of the Republic of Serbia A. Vučić on 12 October in Belgrade; DP CM and MFA of B&H B. Turković met the DPM and MFA of the Republic of Serbia I. Dačić on 9 June in Belgrade. During 2019 the PM of the Republic of Serbia A. Brnabić took part on 8 July 2019 on the SEECP summit in Sarajevo. The President of the Republic of Serbia A. Vučić visited the Mostar Business Fair and met the member of the Collegium of the House of Peoples of B&H D. Čović on 9 April 2019 in Mostar. One of the most important political activities in the bilateral relations of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was the first Joint Session of the Government of Serbia and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo on 4 November 2015.
Economic relations
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most important foreign trade partners of Serbia, and mutual trade in goods is constantly on the increase. During 2019 the total trade amounted to 1.96 billion euros (an increase of 8.4% compared to the previous year), with Serbia’s exports to B&H amounting to 1.35 billion euros, and imports to 608 million euros. Bosnia and Herzegovina was the 3rd export destination and 5th partner for Serbia in regards to the amount of total trade. During the first eleven months of 2020 the trade in goods amounted to 1.58 billion euros, with exports from Serbia amounting to 1.1 billion euros, and imports to 479.4 million euros. The decrease compared to the same period in 2019 for exports is 11%, and for imports 13.6%.
The total investments from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Serbia during the period 2010—2018 amount to 110.1 million euros. In 2019 investments amounted to 15 million euros (a difference between the amount of assets of 29.7 million euros and liabilities of 44.7 million euros), with 8.2 million euros of investments arriving from B&H during the first nine months of 2020 (assets 7.8 million euros, liabilities 16.0 million euros). Companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina investing into Serbia include: Integral inženjering from Banja Luka with investments into Komgram with 8.7 million euros, and investing into the companies Obuća from Mali Zvornik, Simfoni from Belgrade, Duo farma Priboj and Frukta trejd kort from Novi Sad.
According to data from B&H sources, on 31 December 2018 Serbia was in third place regarding investments of 2025 million euros. During 2019 direct investments from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to 16.8 million euros, while during the first nine months of 2020 they amounted to 10.8 million euros. Companies from Serbia investing the most into Bosnia and Herzegovina include: Telekom Srbija (646 million), Delta maksi (over 100), Hemofarm (27.1), Komercijalna banka (10) and Komtrejd (10).
Bilateral agreements
The Republic of Serbia has signed agreements (and contracts, memoranda of understanding, protocols, joint statements, etc.) with Bosnia and Herzegovina - a total of 69, and in accordance with the Dayton Agreement has signed 25 agreements (and memoranda of understanding) with the Republika Srpska entity and 1 memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity. The five key agreements are (in chronological order):
- Agreement on incentives and protection of investments between FR Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed on 18 December 2001,
- Agreement establishing special parallel relations between the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska, signed on 26 September 2006,
- Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on mutual representation and provision of consular protection and services in third countries, 14 March 2012,
- Protocol on cooperation in the search for missing persons between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed on 31 May 2016,
- Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on cooperation in protection from natural and other disasters, signed on 13 December 2010.
Contact information
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Bosnia and Herzegovina: http://sarajevo.mfa.gov.rs/cir/
Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Serbia http://www.mvp.gov.ba/ambasade_konzulati_misije/ambasade_konzulati_i_stalne_misije_bih/DIPL_KONZ_PREST/SRBIJA/?id=6958
Contact at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: Department for Neighbouring Countries and South-Eastern Europe: telephone: +381 11 306 8280, e-mail: osz@mfa.rs