On the initiative of TI BiH, a new Law on Conflict of Interest of FBiH was sent for procedure, supported by 13 deputies from the government and opposition

(Patria) - For almost 13 years, there has been no body in the Federation of BiH to determine conflicts of interest, and numerous officials who hold multiple positions are using the legal chaos while their private companies are unimpeded in obtaining state contracts. As the resolution of this issue has been obstructed for years, Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH), with the support of 13 deputies, has launched an initiative and sent a proposal for a new Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Public Authorities in FBiH for procedure.

The TI BiH initiative was supported by deputies from Our Party, SDA, NIP, DF, SBiH, HRS, and one independent deputy. The goal of the proposal, which was sent to the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, is to establish an independent body that will determine and sanction conflicts of interest, review asset declarations, and define clear rules regarding incompatible functions and limitations related to the private interests of officials.

Data from the Register of Public Officials established by TI BiH shows that 265 officials in FBiH currently hold some additional position in public institutions and companies. A large number of them are violating the still valid federal law, but there is no one to determine the conflict of interest because with the adoption of the new Law at the BiH level in 2013, this jurisdiction was taken away from the Central Election Commission. As the new law in FBiH was never adopted, this has opened up enormous room for decision-making in private or party interests, including favoritism in employment, distribution of budget funds, and public procurement. It is also interesting to mention that data from TI BiH's Integrity Watch platform shows that 20 percent of elected public officials reported ownership in companies that received tenders in 2024.

TI BiH notes that the proposal sent for procedure is not a new text but a solution that has been prepared for many years and represents an important mechanism for fighting corruption, as well as part of the reforms on the European path. The previous FBiH Government determined the draft law in 2022, after years of preparation and consultations with relevant institutions, civil society, and international partners. The draft was then sent to the parliamentary procedure, but after the formation of the new FBiH Government in 2023, it was withdrawn “for refinement”. Almost three years later, the FBiH Ministry of Justice continues to obstruct the adoption of the new Law, which it has never returned to the procedure, nor are there clear indications that this will happen by the end of this term.

After several urgencies submitted by TI BiH to the FBiH Government and Parliament, and general responses from institutions without clear deadlines for when the draft will be returned to the procedure, TI BiH organized consultations with deputies and proposed that they use their procedural right and become proposers of the identical text that was previously withdrawn.

TI BiH called on all deputies of the House of Representatives to join the initiative, with the aim of making the law a result of supra-party support. After collecting signatures, the draft law was submitted to the FBiH Parliament's protocol on January 20. TI BiH calls on deputies to support and adopt this law as a clear message to citizens that public interest is above the interests of individuals and political parties. It is especially important that the law is adopted in this term, considering that 2026 is an election year and the space for reform steps is rapidly narrowing.