Sjednice
Council of Ministers Holds Its 18th Session
07/13/2023
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Position of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the stabilisation and accession process, prepared for the 5th meeting the BIH – EU Stabilisation and Accession Council, to take place in Brussels on July 19, 203.
The BIH Position, including comments and suggestions presented at the European Integrations Collegium, endorsing the document, reiterates strongly strategic determination of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a full membership in the European Union, after receiving the candidate status.
The session granted its consent for the proposed composition of BIH delegation, to be led by Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Borjana Krišto. The delegation will include Deputy Chair and Minister of Defence of BIH Zukan Helez, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH Staša Košarac, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate for European Integrations and BIH Mission in the EU.
Earlier, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the meeting-related piece of information by the Permanent Mission of BIH, a part of the BIH-EU Stabilisation and Accession Council.DEI RESEARCH: 73.3% RESPONDENTS SUPPORT BIH ENTRY TO EU
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Directorate for European Integrations on results of a public opinion research on “positions of citizens as to membership in the European Union and process of integrations to the EU”, conducted this May and June, at 1,200 respondents sample from throughout BIH.
In the time of research, 73.3% respondents supported BIH joining the European Union, which is for 4.1% less than in the same time period last year. BIH entry to the European Union was supported by 86% respondents from the Federation of BIH and 50.6% from Republika Srpska, and 7.1% respondents from the Brčko District of BIH
The respondents in support of BIH joining the EU see as the main benefit from it to be the freedom of movement of people, goods and capital, 36.3% of them, while 30.5% stated a guarantee of permanent peace and political stability, and 22.4% stated compliance to law and regulations. Improvement of infrastructure is stated as the main benefit by 9.1% respondents.
More than half of respondents (52.7%) declining support to BIH joining the EU stated as the main reason a fear from increased living costs and taxes, 17.5% believe it would cause a loss of variety of cultures, while 13.2% respondents stated it is about too massive centralisation.
To a question which reform is needed for improvement of everyday life of citizens, answers range from a fight against corruption 46.6%, courts and prosecutorial offices reform 18.3%, need for cutting off tax burdens 17.6%, social welfare system reform 10.3%, and 4.9% of them noted the public administration reform as a requirement.
The most of the respondents (50.7%) see the major benefit of joining the EU for the youth, while 16.3% of them stated it would be politicians.
Total 40.9% of respondents believe that politicising the integrations process harm mostly the BIH integrations to the EU, which more than 1.8% relevant to the last year’s research, while 23.3% citizens believe it is unwillingness for changes.
INSTITUTE FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO DEVELOP 2024-2028 STRATEGY
The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina to draft and present to the Council of Ministers of BIH 2024-2028 Proposal Strategy for Intellectual Property of BIH, for the aim of improvement of the system and its harmonisation with the EU acquis.
DESPITE DISTURBANCES, DAIRY SECTOR KEEPS STABILE
The Council of Ministers adopted 2019-2022 Analysis of dairy market in Bosnia and Herzegovina, drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.
According to the Analysis, milk production and processing sectors maintain stability despite market turbulences caused by Covid-19 pandemics, reduced production and increased fodder prices.
Total 621.33 million litre of raw milk was produced in BIH last year, of which 601.2 mil. l of caw milk , 12.9 mil. l of sheep milk, and 7.23 mil. l of goat milk, which is an increase of raw milk of 3% relative to the previous years.
Dairies kept by domestic producers buy off 40% at average of produced quantities of raw caw milk. Dairies got delivered more than 259k tonne, at average price of KM 0.70/l, which is more for 10 pfennigs relative to last three years. However, production input prices were in a constant rise, starting form 2019, with 40%-60% growth in year 2022.
In BIH, operating were 23 dairies with procession capacities of 350 million litre, and their utilisation is about 60%. Milk and dairy products are marketed at the European market by 11 diaries.
Raw milk producers are beneficiaries of incentive funds, so KM 81 million was disbursed in 2022, based on milk premium, i.e. KM 8 million or 11% more than a year before.
The most important increase of consumer prices was notable last year, when 1 kg of butter was KM 28 at average, hard cheese was KM 17, 1 kg of margarine was KM 6, and I litre of milk was KM 2.
The volume of total foreign exchange of milk and dairy products was KM 337 mil last year, of which import was at 66% and export at 34%. The value of the total import of milk and dairy products was KM 223.8 mil., as increased for 29% last year relative to the year bore.
Milk and dairy products exported from BIH reached KM 119 million, as increased for 21%. The value of import and export was affected by an increase of both import and export prices of milk and dairy product.
The coverage of import by export of milk and dairy products last year was 50%, while in 2019-2022 time span it decreased for 9%.
The most of milk and dairy products were imported to BIH from the European Union (record figures of KM 203.34 million), as increased for 31% relative to the year before.
Although export of milk from BIH to the EU market sees a continuous increase, reaching almost KM 26 million last year, Bosnia and Herzegovina yet exports most to the CEFTA market, where export of milk and dairy products last year reached KM 86.68 million, as increased for 28% relative to the previous year.
CRITERIA DEFIEND FOR “DENIS MRNJAVAC” AWARD
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted earlier consent for more specific criteria for awarding the “Denis Mrnjavac” Award for promotion of tolerance and non-violence, with corrections made at the session.
It defined procedure, ways and criteria for presentation of the award defined yb the Coucnil of Ministers fo BIH at its 57th sesson of lat November, to be rpesented by the Minister for Human Rights and refugees.
The award is presented as an annual award based on a public call, and right to run for it is to all secondary schools in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and the Brčko District of BIH.
The award is to be presented to a single secondary school student for contribution to human rights promotion, tolerance and mutual respect, and for efforts against violence among youth.
The “Denis Mrnjavac” award for promotion of tolerance and non-violence is to be presented in form of a sculpture, special recognition in form of plaque, and special recognition for the awarded student school.
APPOINTMETNS
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Zdravko Kašiković for Deputy Director of the Institute for Intellectual Property of BIH, as the best ranked candidate after completed public job vacancy ad, in accordance with an opinion by the Civil Service Agency, after Ljubica Kalezić was released from her duty due to expiry of her term.
Upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, appointed were Predrag Jović for Director and Renato Kneževć for Secretary with Special Assignment – Advisor to Director of the Phytosanitary Administration, as the best ranked candidates following the Civil Service Agency-implemented public job vacancy procedure.
Previous Sirector of the Administration Goran Perković was released from his duty due to expiry of his term.
Since there were no successful candidates for the post of Deputy Director, Adela Bičeš-Bektaš was appointed Acting Deputy Director until the end of relevant job vacancy procedure, for three months at longest, and previous Deputy Director Sead Uzunović was released from his duty due to expiry of his term.
The Civil Service Agency should publish a job vacancy ad for Deputy Director of the Phytosanitary Agency of BIH. (end)