An Agreement signed between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU Programme „Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) (2014-2020)“

02  June 2016 - Today in Brussels, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Šarović signed the Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU Programme „Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) (2014-2020)“.

Total budget of the COSME Programme for the period 2014-2020 is 2.298 billion euros, and a significant part of the funds will be available for the use of BiH entrepreneurs. General objectives of this Agreement are strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as encouraging entrepreneurial culture and promoting the establishment and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

This signed Agreement is a great opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises in BiH to access EU funds and projects, and the main beneficiaries of the COSME Programme will be the entrepreneurs, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, which will have benefits due to easier access to Development Funds, resources for consolidation and growth of their businesses, as well as citizens who wish to start their own business (self-employed), and who are faced with difficulties in the process of establishing their own business, such as  the young and female entrepreneurs.