Roundtable Held in Sarajevo on the Challenges of Implementing the Competition Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Role of Institutions and the Academic Community

Sarajevo, 17 December 2025 – The Competition Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Faculty of Law of the University of Sarajevo (UNSA) organized the Roundtable on the topic: “Challenges of Implementing the Competition Law in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Role of Institutions and the Academic Community”.

The roundtable brought together relevant experts, representatives of institutions and the academic community with the aim of exchanging experience and defining future steps to improve the framework and practice of implementing competition regulations in BiH, with special emphasis on the role of institutions and the academic community in this process.

The event was opened and welcoming speeches were given by Prof. Dr. Zinka Grbo, Dean of the Faculty of Law of UNSA, and Ninela Salihbašić, President of the Competition Council of BiH. Both emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation between institutions and the academic community in order to strengthen the rule of law and effectively protect market competition.

After the introductory remarks, the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Competition Council and the Faculty of Law took place, which formalized the continuation of cooperation between the two institutions. The Memorandum was concluded in order to create conditions for cooperation in areas of mutual interest related to the protection and promotion of market competition. The goal is to create and establish cooperation that provides for the exchange of knowledge and joint activities in scientific and professional areas in the field of competition law and practice.

During the central event of the Round Table – discussion, active participants included Ivo Jerkić, member of the Competition Council of BiH, and Prof. Dr. Kanita Imamović-Ćizmić, professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Sarajevo, together with other representatives of the Competition Council, relevant institutions, and members of the lawyer and academic community.

The discussion covered the key challenges facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in implementing the Competition Law, including:
• The need for additional education and raising awareness about the importance of competition policy.
• The role of the academic community in providing expertise and critical analysis.
• Improving the efficiency of proceedings before the Competition Council.
• Issues of cooperation between different bodies
It was concluded that cooperation between the Competition Council and the Faculty of Law of the UNSA is extremely important and will continue through joint projects, scientific research and educational activities, with the aim of creating a more stable and competitive market environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.