Milan prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations that Italian nationals paid Bosnian Serb soldiers for 'sniper tourism' trips to shoot civilians during the 1992-1996 Siege of Sarajevo. The probe, triggered by a writer's complaint and a documentary, seeks to identify individuals who allegedly paid significant sums for these 'human safaris'.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO have officially adopted an Individual Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) for the 2025-2028 period. The agreement, signed in Brussels, aims to strengthen cooperation, streamline reform processes, and enhance stability in Southeast Europe, without prejudicing future membership decisions.
The UN Security Council has unanimously extended the mandate of the European Union's peacekeeping force, EUFOR Althea, in Bosnia and Herzegovina for another year, ensuring its continued role in maintaining a safe and secure environment and supporting the Dayton Agreement.
A highly anticipated referendum in Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska, intended to challenge decisions against Milorad Dodik, did not proceed on October 25, 2025. The non-occurrence has sparked accusations of 'betrayal and capitulation' against Dodik, with early presidential elections now slated for November 23.
Bosnian and Herzegovinian Olympian Aleksandra Samardzic earned a silver medal in the -70kg category at the fifth Sarajevo European Judo Open. Competing on home soil, Samardzic reached the final before being defeated by Germany's Sarah Mehlau, marking another significant achievement in her decorated career.
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a comprehensive Reform Agenda on September 30, 2025, a crucial step to access up to €917 million from the EU's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The agenda includes 114 measures across green transition, private sector development, human capital, and rule of law, notably committing to liberalize the electricity market and align prices with EU levels.
The World Bank has revised Bosnia and Herzegovina's GDP growth projection for 2025 downwards to 2.6%, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from its earlier spring forecast. This adjustment reflects ongoing challenges including political instability, rising prices, and global uncertainties impacting the nation's economic outlook.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit Sarajevo on October 14, 2025, to discuss Bosnia and Herzegovina's reform program. This visit is pivotal for unlocking 917 million euros under the EU's 6-billion-euro Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, following the recent adoption of BiH's Reform Agenda.
The Tuzla Canton Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against Bego Gutić, 55, former mayor of Banovići and ex-Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton. The charges include abuse of position or authority and giving a gift, stemming from alleged irregularities in public procurement and linked to 'Operation Kraljica' in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a 1.3% year-on-year increase in construction permits issued in August 2025, reaching a total of 454. While permits for buildings rose by 6% to 335, civil engineering projects saw a 9.8% decline to 119. The number of planned dwellings decreased by 18.5% to 755.
A new Centre for Verification of Deactivated Firearms has officially opened in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on September 23, 2025. Supported by the OSCE and international donors, the facility aims to prevent the criminal misuse of firearms by ensuring proper deactivation and enhancing law enforcement capabilities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's trade deficit widened to 8.54 billion marka in the first eight months of 2025, marking a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Exports rose by 5.7% to 11.13 billion marka, while imports grew by 3.8% to 19.66 billion marka, according to the country's statistical office.
