Minister Bošnjak and High Representative Schmidt Visit the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Support for an Important Cultural Institution

The Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dubravka Bošnjak, accompanied by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, visited the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina (NUB BiH). The visit was organized to highlight the urgent needs of this institution, which has been facing serious challenges related to funding, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability for many years.

The library, which is a key establishment for preserving cultural heritage and ensuring access to educational and research resources, has been operating without a permanent founding status and stable funding for nearly 30 years. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has been working for years to find a legal solution that would permanently ensure the stable functioning of the NUB, including initiatives to appoint a Board of Directors. However, these efforts have been hindered by legal obstacles and differing views among the relevant institutions.

The last Board of Directors for NUB BiH was appointed back in 2000, while the library's director, who had been in office since 2005, recently retired. This situation has raised concerns about the functioning of the institution due to the inability to appoint a new leader. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has attempted several times to appoint new members to the Board of Directors and Supervisory Board; however, appeals and legal complexities have delayed the implementation of these solutions. Additionally, in 2024, the Ministry initiated the establishment of a working group to propose a permanent solution for the status of the NUB and other cultural institutions, but progress has been slowed due to delays in the nomination of members of this working group by the relevant institutions.

The aim of Minister Bošnjak's and High Representative Schmidt's visit is to draw public and institutional attention to the importance of NUB BiH and to support ongoing efforts for stable funding of this institution. The Ministry of Civil Affairs, in accordance with its responsibilities, remains committed to addressing the status of this cultural institution, with the next steps aimed at resolving pressing existential issues to ensure the library's stability.