Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal state

History and trends

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a semi-presidential Republic. Its Constitution was adopted on 21 November 1995.

Following the breakup of Yugoslavia in June 1991, it was unclear whether the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina would survive. On 3 March 1992, the Bosnian Parliament declared the Independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The country’s population is divided into three nationalities along religious lines: Bosniaks (Muslims, 44% of the population in 1991, nationality recognised in 1969), Serbs (Orthodox Christians, 31%) and Croats (Catholics, 17%).

The viability of the new state was compromised by the civil war, which caused widespread destruction and population displacement, dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines.

The Dayton Agreement, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, formally enshrined the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, consisting of two entities:

• the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (covering the Croat and Bosniak territories, 51% of the country’s surface area)
• the Republika Srpska (49% of the country’s surface area).

The two entities share joint institutions (rotating state presidency, parliament, central bank, etc.) but each has its own constitution and armed forces and is entitled to foster privileged relationships with neighbouring states (Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia).

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The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into 74 municipalities (and 6 cities) across 10 cantons (Croat, Bosniak and ethnically mixed).

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is sometimes still known by its original name (“Bosniak-Croat Federation”) because of its mixed population of Bosnian Croats and Bosniaks. However, this name was abolished with the Dayton Agreement, when canton 10 (mostly Serb with a Croat minority) was incorporated into the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Local governement powers are defined at the canton level in the Federation, and at the central level in the Republika Srpska. In both entities, municipalities have relatively limited powers.

In terms of local finances, fiscal autonomy is extremely limited in both entities. Revenues are allocated arbitrarily, on an annual basis.

For example, in the Federation in 2010:

• Canton resources: €846 million (source: Fed MoF)
• Municipal resources: €241 million (2% of GDP)

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The Republika Srpska

The Republika Srpska has been divided into just 63 municipalities (including 2 cities) since 1996. Prior to this date, there were 80 municipalities. The difference stems from the redivision of the Republika Srpska’s territory in the aftermath of the Dayton Agreement to account for the redrawn border with the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This change resulted in the abolition of 12 municipalities.

Some sources divide the entity into seven regions, but this division is purely for statistical purposes, whereby municipalities are grouped together for data collection purposes (along similar lines to the statistical regions of Slovenia).

Republika Srpska land-use planning documents also divide the territory into different regions and subregions.

The Republika Srpska has sovereignty over its own territory. Like the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has its own president, parliament (National Assembly of Republika Srpska), government, symbols (coat of arms, anthem, flag) and postal service.

However, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina represents the entire state of Bosnia and Herzegovina (i.e. both entities) on foreign policy and institutional representation matters.

The most recent local elections were held in October 2016, and the election rules are set out in an electoral act (common to both entities).