Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to help Bosnia and Herzegovina to build a functioning central state authority with appropriate institutions.

The UK, as one of the Guarantors of the Dayton Peace Agreement, supports the good functioning of the central state as well as devolved levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Through political, programmatic, diplomatic and defence engagement we are helping to build BiH's stability, prosperity and democracy. Last year the UK spent £7.5 million in programme funds to help strengthen the country's defence and security, improve the judiciary and modernise the economy. Our programme funds for the region are set to increase in future years. In 2014, the UK and Germany launched an initiative to help the country make progress on its EU accession path and to create jobs and growth for the benefit of all BiH's citizens. We work with the police and security agencies and with the State-level judicial institutions to strengthen independence, professionalism and efficiency in tackling terrorism, organised crime and corruption. We provide support to State and sub-State institutions to improve the climate for doing business in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to strengthen the economy and to reform public administration. The UK’s commitment to the Western Balkans region as a whole is long-standing and enduring. Our Western Balkans Summit in July underscores our willingness to work with international partners to help the region become stable, secure, rules-based and ultimately prosperous.