Bosnia and Herzegovina’s civil service recruitment system continues to face significant challenges, as highlighted in the European Commission’s 2024 report. Despite some progress, particularly the adoption of a state-level civil service law and the establishment of the Civil Service Agencies Forum in October 2023, substantial issues remain. These include political interference, a lack of coordination across government levels, and the fragmented implementation of merit-based hiring principles. The civil service recruitment process is often influenced by political considerations, which undermine the transparency and meritocracy essential for an effective public administration. Criteria for selection are inconsistently applied, and decision-making processes frequently grant excessive discretion to heads of institutions. As a result, fair competition is compromised, and professional development among public servants is discouraged. Coordination between different administrative levels is another key challenge. The varying civil service laws, recruitment policies, and promotion criteria across the state, entities, and cantons contribute to inefficiencies and limit the mobility of civil servants. While the action plan for public administration reform (2023–2027) aims to address these discrepancies, its success hinges on sufficient budgetary support and political commitment.

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