Lejla Mesihovic

Assistant Professor of International Relations, International Burch University

Email: lejla_mesihovic@yahoo.com

Biography

Lejla Ramić-Mesihović has been dealing with European integration issues for the last two decades, both in practical and academic terms. After several years in journalism, she worked for 15 years in the EU institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an adviser (EU Special Representative's Office) and servant (EU Delegation to BiH).Her professional focus on analysis and policy advocacy regarding the EU–BiH relations as well as reforming Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the EU accession, international relations and democratization. She further deepened her professional commitment to the democratization process, by managing project interventions of the UNDP devoted to women leadership. In addition to the EUI, the focus of her academic interest includes geopolitics of southern part of the Balkans as being the follow-up of her previous academic research–MA in Macedonian foreign policy and doctoral dissertation on the impact of Albanian ethnic identity on stability of southern part of the Balkans. She works as Assistant Professor at the International Burch University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Title of Presentation

Key Challenges of Foreign Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Abstract
Foreign policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been evolving since declaration of independence from Yugoslavia under numerous challenges imposed by the 1992 - 95 war , both on the front of recognition and seeking support defend itself . Within the context of post - war realities, formally becoming an object of international crisis management through the process of Dayton Peace Accord implementation, BiH diplomacy has often been struggling to maximise its impact, frequently in absence of a favourable political climate for a positive change to happen . These efforts have, most certainly, reached their climax in relation to activities that led to selection of BiH into non - permanent membership of the UNSC and its successful performance in 2010 and 2011 . Joining NATO has been undisputable until April 2006, but the process has continued despite the opposing forces. Firm strategic foreign policy orientation towards European integration has been undisputable, with two third support of the population confirmed in 2022 . Over the last decade, there has been an increasing number of substantial frictions between the DPA - based peace process that still deals with numerous ambitions which originate from those which were some of the main motivators of the war, and demanding process of integration in to the European Union.
Publications from the Author