Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the Energy Charter Treaty and the Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA) in 2001. By ratifying the Protocol, countries commit themselves to formulate and implement policies for improving energy efficiency and reducing the negative environmental impact of the energy cycle (Art. 5). The guiding principle of the PEEREA is that contracting parties shall cooperate and, as appropriate, assist each other in developing and implementing energy efficiency policies, laws and regulations (Art. 3).

The country review process is a core activity in monitoring and facilitating the implementation of the Protocol. The in-depth energy efficiency reviews, implemented under the PEEREA, have proven to be an important tool in assessing the progress of member countries in fulfilling their commitments under the Protocol. They also provide peer guidance to governments in developing and implementing energy efficiency policies.

This in-depth review of energy efficiency policies of Bosnia and Herzegovina was carried out in 2011, following a regular review report submitted by the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities in 2008.

The Dayton Peace Agreement established a new constitution for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) comprising two entities; the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska. The energy sector is organised on these lines with the entities being the key players coordinated at the state-wide level by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations (MOFTER).

At this time Bosnia and Herzegovina has no official Energy Policy or Strategy, though work is in progress at the state and entity levels to develop an energy strategy. Two projects will contribute to the development of an energy strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina: the EC funded TASED project, which aims at compiling an energy database and energy balance model as part of its mandate and the Energy Study in Bosnia and Herzegovina, recently finished, that provides additional data. The Strategy should be completed by December 2008.

This Regular Review was prepared by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.