Bosnia and Herzegovina: Leading the Danube Region in 2025
The Danube Civil Society Forum is proud to be an active stakeholder of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and to closely cooperate with (also) this years´presidency, the Bosnian Presidency. In 2025 we are organizing two major events — a National Participation Day in May and the 12th Danube Participation Day in November, both in Sarajevo — with the valuable support of the Bosnian Presidency.
From 1 January to 31 December 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina holds the Presidency of the EUSDR, succeeding Austria. The Strategy, endorsed by the European Council in 2011, tackles common challenges in the Danube Region — from environmental issues to connectivity, economic development, and demographic change.
In recent years, the Region has faced numerous global crises: the financial crisis, migration and demographic shifts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Presidency is committed to fostering cooperation and solidarity across the Danube Region to tackle these challenges together.
Priorities of the Bosnian Presidency
Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to revitalize the European integration process, especially for the Western Balkans, where enlargement fatigue must be overcome. The Presidency places special emphasis on:
Security, civil protection, and disaster preparedness,
Tourism and culture development,
Connectivity and green transition,
Education, skills, and the labour market.
The Presidency also underscores the importance of youth engagement as a driving force for reconciliation and regional development.
A Focus on Sustainability and Gender Equality
In line with the UN 2030 Agenda and the European Green Deal, Bosnia and Herzegovina will work towards embedding the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) in the Region. Gender equality, reducing the gender pay gap, and providing equal access to education and the labour market are cross-cutting themes throughout the Presidency’s agenda.
Strengthening Regional and Cross-Strategy Cooperation
Bosnia and Herzegovina will foster stronger collaboration between the EUSDR and other macro-regional strategies, especially the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR). Enhancing cooperation, sharing best practices, and strengthening synergies with other regional frameworks are key institutional goals.
Additionally, Bosnia and Herzegovina will seek to better integrate EUSDR priorities into EU funding mechanisms beyond 2027, supporting the implementation of future Cohesion Policies and the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Key Events in 2025
A highlight of the Presidency will be the 14th EUSDR Annual Forum, taking place in Sarajevo on 5–6 November 2025, preceded by the 12th Danube Participation Day on 4 November 2025. These events will bring together stakeholders from across the Region and beyond to assess progress and plan future actions.
Other important events and more on the priorities of the Bosnia and Herzegovina EUSDR Presidency (2025).
