Political & Fiscal Department

The OHR Political and Fiscal Department provides advice to the High Representative on civilian peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this role, it engages with a wide range of domestic and international interlocutors, including state, entity, cantonal, municipal and intergovernmental institutions.

The Political and Fiscal Department serves as a focal point for coordinating international policy making in BiH, as well as for planning and implementation within OHR itself. The department is organized in three units.

The Government and Parliamentary Unit liaises with BiH’s State and Entity parliaments, as well as Cantonal assemblies, and with governments on all levels of authority, is engaged in monitoring their work, tracking legislation from the executive to the legislative bodies and lobbying on behalf of OHR for adoption of relevant laws crucial for  Country’s transition towards Euro-Atlantic integration. It provides political lobbying strategies, relevant analysis and briefing materials to the High Representative on the matter and reports developments which have the potential to undermine the General Framework Agreement on Peace.

In the field of strategy and planning, the Strategic Unit provides background briefings, comprehensive political analysis and advice on strategic options on a wide range of issues to the High Representative and his deputies, including on foreign policy and reconciliation. It also advises on general strategy and policy implementation.

The Fiscal Unit advises the High Representative on fiscal and economic developments related to the functionality and sustainability of Dayton institutions and on matters defined under the HR’s mandate and the 5+2 agenda. The Fiscal Unit maintains reporting, analytical and advisory role, and provides factual, comprehensive and strategic advice and support to the High Representative and the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board.

In addition, the he  Political and Fiscal Department prepares, together with other OHR departments and other international organizations, meetings of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board and the Board of Principals (which bring together the heads of the main international agencies in BiH). It provides necessary liaison within these international organizations. Additionally, it organises the High Representative’s visits inside and outside the country and make arrangements for dignitaries coming to BiH.

Department for Legal Affairs

The Department for Legal Affairs (the Department) consists of a team of national and international lawyers who engage in legal matters across the spectrum of civilian implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) including, but not limited to public law, constitutional, criminal, administrative, and fiscal law issues. It functions as a legal service for all other departments of the OHR and is the main source of authoritative legal advice to the High Representative and his deputies.

The Department bears a particular weight of responsibility in light of the burden which is placed upon the High Representative under Article V of Annex 10 to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (GFAP), as the final authority in theatre regarding interpretations of the Agreement on Civilian Implementation of the Peace Settlement. It also provides legal advice on decisions previously enacted by High Representatives as well as on other international and domestic law matters. The Department is often called to analyze draft legal acts that have the potential to challenge the GFAP.

The Department also works closely with domestic institutions at all levels and the wider International Community, in particular to the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board and the Board of Principals on various legal matters.

The Department also maintains a Database of legal materials, producing periodic reports on the status of pending legislation, and maintaining relations with the Official Gazettes with a view to promoting the timely publication of legal enactment, preparing for publishing of the High Representative Decisions and other issues.

Strategic Communication and Press Department

The Strategic Communication and Press Department presents the High Representative’s and OHR’s policies through interviews and briefings, press conferences, press releases and articles, and responds to inquiries from the local and international media. The aim is to provide the public with comprehensive information and thereby generate understanding and support for the implementation of the GFAP, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad. The Strategic Communication and Press Department also publishes essential texts relating to the GFAP, maintains the OHR web site and social media platforms, and runs public information campaigns to inform the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina about their rights and duties, and to promote reconciliation, tolerance, good governance, and the civic society.

Resources and Transformation Department

The Resources and Transformation Department provides the necessary support infrastructure for the activities and objectives of the OHR and is responsible for the management of all financial, physical, and human resources within the OHR.

The Department ensures that the OHR conforms to management and financial policies and procedures approved by the PIC Steering Board.

The Resources and Transformation Department comprises:
– Finance Section
– Human Resources Section (including Translation Unit)
– IT Section
– Logistics Section
– Security Section