Tourism Boost in Sarajevo Canton: Sarajevo Canton logged 241,584 overnight stays in July (+2.4% y/y). During Dino Merlin’s three concerts (July 31–Aug 2), fiscal turnover hit about 156 million BAM (+48.4% vs. the comparable June weekend), with 155.99 million BAM recorded via fiscal devices across the three days. SEPA Push for BiH Payments: Bosnia and Herzegovina officially applied to join SEPA, a key step toward European payments integration. The European Payments Council will review the file; after approval, banks and institutions will still need technical and operational alignment before the first SEPA transactions. Credit Rating Warning Ahead of Elections: S&P kept BiH’s B+/B rating with stable outlook but warned pre-election spending could worsen the deficit, pushing it above 3% of GDP this year without fiscal consolidation. Steel Sector Tension in Zenica: Workers at Nova Zeljezara Zenica issued an ultimatum: severance by Aug 10 or face larger protests, warning a shutdown could disrupt Zenica’s district heating. Regional Trade Snapshot: Serbia’s Jan–Jun 2026 external goods trade rose to 39.65 bln euros (+5.8% y/y), with exports up and the deficit down. Schengen Rules Hit BiH Transporters: Bosnia and Herzegovina-based professional drivers report being turned back from Croatia under the 90/180 rule, with carriers warning August–September could bring worse disruption. Local Business & Culture: Sarajevo Film Festival launched a Béla Tarr tribute program, while a separate piece highlights Sarajevo’s Bentbasa history—small stories, but both feed the city’s cultural economy.