Bosnia-Herzegovina

Political relations

The Dayton Peace Agreement, signed in Paris on 14 December 1995, entrusted the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB) with responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation of the civilian aspects of the peace settlement. France is a member of the PIC SB, which convenes every six months in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is chaired by the High Representative. France also supports Bosnia and Herzegovina’s candidature for EU accession.

• French Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina: François Delmas (since August 2023)
• Twitter account: @FranceenBiH
• French Embassy website: https://ba.ambafrance.org/
• French Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bojana Kondić Panić (since 2022)

Economic relations

Following an increase of 32.1% in 2022, trade flows between France and Bosnia and Herzegovina fell by 2.1% year-on-year in 2023 due to a decline in French imports. France was thus Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 13^th largest supplier (accounting for 1.8% of all imports into Bosnia and Herzegovina) and its 9^th largest customer (buying 2.0% of all exports). Nevertheless, trade flows between France and Bosnia and Herzegovina have quadrupled since 2008, when the trade chapter of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (ASA) entered into force via an interim agreement.

While France has traditionally had a trade deficit with Bosnia and Herzegovina, French exports have grown steadily in recent years and that deficit has halved since 2022. At the same time, French foreign direct investments (FDI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina have increased by 20.4% year-on-year, but remained low at €14 million. Nonetheless, there are a number of projects of interest for French companies in the transport infrastructure sector (road and rail), in the renewable energy sector (geothermal, photovoltaic and small hydro plants), and potentially also in decontamination activities on industrial sites.

According to the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, total foreign investment in the country in 2022 amounted to €8.9 billion. France ranks 27^th (down two places compared to 2021) with an FDI of €14 million, representing an increase of 20.4% year-on-year