The Serb member of Bosnia’s tripartite Presidency has requested an extraordinary session of the institution to discuss an initiative for Bosnia to join the so-called ‘Mini Schengen’ - a regional project designed to lift barriers on the movement of goods, services, and people between Western Balkan countries.

The initiative so far has been agreed by Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia and Milorad Dodik believes Bosnia and Herzegovina should join as well.

“The countries that joined this initiative agreed to issue joint work permits and recognize each other’s qualifications and diplomas without additional procedures, which would provide the possibility of movement of labour and with that increase the availability of labour, and thus the attractiveness of the entire region for foreign investors,” Dodik’s request said.

Other areas of cooperation include student exchanges, joint research and development projects, the introduction of 24-hour working hours of all border inspection services which would shorten the waiting time for trucks carrying goods, a unique “package” of documentation necessary for the transit of goods which would be in line with the digital development strategy.

It also includes cooperation regarding changes in the laws in the field of capital markets, tax and financial systems in the countries that joined the initiative, with the aim of creating conditions for an unhindered flow of capital. It would also strengthen cross-border cooperation in combating transnational crime and terrorism through cooperation in the field of migration and emergency assistance and define rules in many areas with the aim of improving the attractiveness of countries and cooperation.

Dodik argued that he believes such an initiative is of vital interest for all of Bosnia’s citizens.