Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 11th and 12th Session
07/14/2020
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina appointed Darko Đulum, at its 11th session, for manager of the State Agency for Investigation and protection for a four year term.
A decision was made to verify a decision on appointment of Danko Milinović for General Manager of the Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA). The CRA Council proposed Milinović for Manager, following a job vacancy procedure implemented.
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Marko Vujevoć, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, for Manager of the Agency for Staff Education and Professional Up-Grading, as the most successful candidate after completion of a job vacancy procedure. Simultaneously the former manager was released from his duty.
The session granted its consent to the Official Gazette Public Company to appoint Dragan Prusina for manager of the Company for a four-year term.
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Branislava Milekić for Republika Srpska member of the State regulatory Agency for Electric Power, upon a proposal of the Republika Srpska National Assembly.
ENABLED ENTRY TO BIH FROM EU AND SCHENGEN AREAS WITH ACCOMPANYING NEGATIVE SARS-COV-2 TEST AS AT JULY 16
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision amending a Decision on additional conditions for foreigners’ entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Amendment Decision enables an entry and stay in BIH of citizens of the EU member-countries and Schengen Agreement member-countries, as well as of foreigners-holders of a multiply Schengen visa or EU countries’ visa, or appropriate stay permit in the EU counties or Schengen zone countries, under condition of holding a negative CARS-Cov-2 test, not older than 48 hours as at moment of entry. The decision will be effective as of July 16, 2020.
Citizens of those counties are obliged to comply with all instructions of BIH authorities (epidemiologic and health).
The Decision does not apply to citizens of the Republic of Croatia, as they may enter in accordance with an earlier taken decision on additional conditions for foreigners’ entry to BIH, when they were enabled the entry, together when citizens of Serbia and Montenegro were.
COM BIH TOOK DECISION TO ACCEPT UAE ASSISTANCE
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to accept an assistance from the United Arab Emirates – Dubai Emirate Government to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to the decision, the assistance comprises of 100k swabs, 25k protective suits, 40 ventilators, 150k gloves, 150k masks H95, chirurgical and face masks, as well as 50k visors, and 20.400 protective glasses.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will seek a consent/approval from the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of health and Health Department of the Brčko District of BIH Government for the import and use of medicines and medical supplies of humanitarian character to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance to the Law on Medicines and Medical Supplies and Instruction on Acting in Procedures for Import of Medicines and Medical Supplies of Humanitarian Character to BIH Territory Threatened by Natural or Other Disaster.
Based on these approvals, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will accept the assistance, aimed to protect citizens’ health from Codiv-19 contagion, and if the consents arrive, the Council of Ministers will decide on the assistance by a special decision.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will distribute the assistance, pursuant to an earlier decision of the Council of Ministers on principles of distribution of assistance to the Federation of BIH in 61.5% share, to Republika Srpska in 37.5% share and to the Brčko District of BIH in 1% share. The Federation of BIH will distribute tis assistance to the Federal level and 10 Cantons level each in 50% share.
DEFINED PROPOSAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CoMBIH AND GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA ON BORDER-CROSSING BRATUNAC-LJUBOVIJA
The session defined a proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on construction and setting-up a new border-crossing at Brtunac-Ljubovija site, with a related negotiations report.
According to the agreement, proposed by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, the two states will develop and open a joint border crossing at a joint site Brunac-Ljubovija for international road transport of passengers and goods, at which all kinds of goods will be imported, exported and transported, except for those subject to inspection and excise dues.
The construction of the border-crossing with a side road on Bosnia and Herzegovina territory is a continuation of a good cooperation of BIH and Serbia, after the two states agreed a realisation of a bridge construction project across the Drina River at Bratunac-Ljubovija site.
The project is being implemented based on signed-to Agreement between the Council of Ministers of BH and Government of the Republic of Serbia on construction of an international bridge across the Drina River with the accompanying facilities at the Bratunac-Ljubovija site. The Project is to be finalised by the end of this year.
The Proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport was proposed for the BIH signatory.
EQUIPMENT FOR AIRPORT OPERATORS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on transfer of entitlement over basic resources, which enables the BIH Border Police to make a free-of-charge transfer of ownership over four devices for anti-diversion inspection to airport operators in BIH, in total value of KM 9.2 million.
Each device will be transferred to an ownership of the International Airport Banja Luka, Public Company International Airports Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla.
The devices are a part of equipment granted earlier by the People’s Republic of China, with one-year a guarantee term, which included free-of-charge servicing and maintenance, and the term expired in November 2019.
The equipment transfer is in accordance with the BIH Civil Aviation Safety Programme, which sets forth that an airport operator is obliged to provide for security equipment for anti-diversion inspection, with regular maintenance, proper use and servicing.
DOMESTIC PRODUCERS TO ENJOY SMOOTH PROCESS OF ORIGIN MARKS PRTECTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Food Safety Agency, to amend a decision on authorised bodies for evaluation of harmonisation for products with protected marks of origin, protected marks of geographical origin and guaranteed traditional speciality with an EI mark, as a confirmation of harmonisation level with the relevant EU regulations.
Under the decision, the authorised body for evaluation of harmonisation is the Organic Control System. Ltd. Subotica, Republic of Serbia, together with earlier authorised Organic Control, Ltd Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in compliance with a Regulation on quality systems for food products, based on which the public call was announced.
The decision enabled domestic producers a smooth process of protection of food product marks in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR SPREADIG ORGANIC PRODUCTION IN BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on harmonisation of BIH legislation with that of the EU, as well as on a possibility of enhancement of the organic production sector.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will, in cooperation with the Directorate for European Integrations, responsible bodies with the Entities, cantons and the Brčko District of BIH, prepare and provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH a comprehensive analysis of harmonisation of organic production legislative in Bosnia and Herzegovina with that if the European Union.
BH had registered in 2018 only 58 producers of organic products, mostly medical herbs and berries, according to the “Organic Control” from Sarajevo. The most important export markets for organic products from BIH were the EU countries, namely, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.
The European Union legislation introduced amendments in 2001, referring to boosting control system, new rules for producers and on import of organic products, to enable the equal standard of products, as well as broader spectrum of products to be marketed as organic.
In BIH legislation the area was partially regulated at the Entity level, while in the EC Opinion on BIH application or EU membership from 2019, points that BIH should adopt a state-level law on organic production.
In accordance with a conclusion adopted today, the Ministry of foreign Trade and Economic Relations should prepare the piece of legislation in the Q3 this year.
HARMONISATION OF DOMESTIC LEGILSATION ON ACUIS ON FISHING
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on taking-up activities on harmonisation of domestic legislation and implementation of fishing and aquaculture-relevant acquis, and tasked the Ministry of Foreign Trade an Economic Relations to continue, coordinating activities in the relevant are in cooperation with responsible Entity and Brčko District of BIH institutions, in the context of approximation of BIH to the European Union.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations applied for Taiex technical assistance, which was approved in 2018, so preparatory activities are on-going for harmonisation of fishing and sustainable fishing-relevant legislation.
Also, agreed was a cooperation with the EUROFISH for technical assistance and framework approach for development of a strategic document of the BIH Fishing Development Programme.
Bosnia and Herzegovina takes an active part in development of an EU Strategy for Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR), referring to blue technologies, fishing and aquaculture, maritime and marine affairs and services.
For the purpose of fulfilling its obligations assumed by signing the AAS and for the access to funds available for use of the sector potentials, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations intends to use the Eurofish technical assistance to develop the aquaculture and fishing sector Programme.
PROJECT RELATISATION IN DRINA RIVER BASIN
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on implementation of the Drina River Basin Management in the Western Balkans (GEF TF 0A2317 and SCCF TF0A2320), for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, worth total USD 8.4 million,
The Project aims the improvement of mechanisms and capacities in participant-countries of the Planning and Management of Cross-Border Drina River Basin, with adaptation to climate change and raising living standard of local citizens.
The resources were provided for in equal 50% shares by the Social Fund for Climate Change and Global Fund for Environmental Protection, and will be divided proportionally to territory of the Drina River basin, namely to BIH USD 3.375.270,00 (37%); Montenegro USD 2.721.525,00 (32%); and Serbia USD 2.635.625,00 (31%).
Out of resources intended for BIH, Republika Srpska is entitled to USD 1.129.875,00, the Federation of BIH has right to USD 359,875.00, while the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations should get USD 1.885.520,00
The project was effective from March 2017, and its completion was planned for end October this year, while the terminal deadline for financial transactions under the Project is February 28, 2021.
IMPROVEMENT MADE IN IMPLEMENTATIO NOF STRATEGY FOR FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION – PERCEPTION SAME
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of the Fourth Report of the Corruption Prevention and Anti-Corruption Coordination Agency, relating to monitoring of 2015-2019 Anti-Corruption Strategy its Implementation Action Plan.
According to the Report, a certain improvement was made in Strategy implementation, but the reality of situation in BIH and corruption perception overshadow the statistical data concerning the implementation thereof.
So, out of total planned 226 activities, 206 of them was realised, of which 108 fully, 98 partially, while 30 activities were not realised.
The Strategy and accompanying Action Plan include five strategic aims, 69 strategic programmes and 226 activities classified into 15 different time spans.
The Report was drawn based on available information provided by action direct implementers and anti-corruption bodies in BIH, including data on Agency-implemented activities, as well as data by other strategic partners in implementation of measures and activities defined under the Strategy and Action Plan.
BIH INSTITUTIONS CONDUCTED 258 CONSULTATIONS MORE IN 2019 THAN IN 2018
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice 2019 Report on Implementation of Rules for Consultations in Development of Legal Acts, which indicates that BIH Institutions made an improvement in the process, demonstrating a higher degree of pro-activity in the process.
BIH Institutions conducted last year 539 consultations in development of legal acts, which is a considerable increase, compared to year 2018, when 281 consultations were conducted.
The e-Consultations web-site was used by 61 institutions, which is an increase for seven new-comers relative to 2018, when 56 institutions used the application.
All BIH Institutions registered at e-Consultations web-platform appointed their coordinators and deputy coordinators of the consultations.
A sight feedback of the public in the consultations process poses a challenging task, together with a small number of registered legal or natural persons, interested for Institutions’ activities and regulations development.
Therefore, the Ministry of Justice will organise the training for interested public on Rules for consultations in development of legal acts and on possibilities of participation in the process of creation of public policies via e-Consultations web-platform.
TO SECURE PRECONDITIONS FOR ACCESSION TO WEATHER FORECASTING REFERENT SYSTEM
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on activities implemented on realisation of a BIH Flood Protection and River Management Action Plan from March 2018 to December 2019, and tasked the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to continue coordinating the Action Plan realisation.,
The session adopted a set of conclusions targeting the improvement of relevant processes, while the BIH competent institutions were required to secure preconditions for accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to weather forecasting referent system and intensify their activities for an effective implementation of resources provided for implementation of the BIH Flood Protection and River Management Action Plan.
BIH TRADE FACILITATION BOARD OPRATIVE
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to amend and supplement a decision on appointment of members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Trade Facilitation Board, to be chaired over by the Minister of foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac, while Deputy Chair will be Deputy Minister Ljiljana Lovrić. The Board had been comprised of representatives of competent Ministries and institutions at BIH, Entity and the Brčko District levels, including representatives of the BIH Foreign Trade Chamber and Entity and Brčko District Economic Chambers. By the appointment of the new seating of the Council of Ministers, the term of the then Board members expired.
The aim of the Board, established in 2018, is the further simplification and harmonisation of customs and other border procedures, pursuant to international standards set under the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade Facilitation and other international trade obligations of BIH.
CURRENT RESERVE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on distribution and use of the current reserves from 2019, which the Ministry of Finance and Treasury wi8ll provide to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly.
According to the note, out of planned KM 3,428,000.00, total KM 2,272,500.00 was approved last year from the current reserves.
The Council of Ministers of BIH approved KM 1,812,000.00 last year, out of planned KM 3,068,000.00, while the implemented sum was KM 1,684,496.00. The remaining Funds amount to KM 1,383,503.64, among which there are KM 128,003.64 approved but unrealised funds.
Three BIH Presidency members approved in 2019 120,000 each, which is total KM 360,000, as projected.
The Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH will be sent a price of information on distribution and use of current reserves funds for the Q1 2020, adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
Out of planned KM 857,000.00 of current reserves in January-March 2020, the Council of Ministers approved total KM 50,000.00.
RECONSTRUCTION AND FURBISHING OF DIPLOMATIC CONSULARY OFFICE BUILDING IN VIENNA
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-proposed decision on approving a multi-annual capital investment project - Reconstruction and Furbishing of Bosnia and Herzegovina Diplomatic-Consular Office Building in Vienna, estimated at total KM 2.1 million.
The realisation of the Project was planned for 2020-2022, and will be financed from resources paid based on a Decision on sale of diplomatic-consular property of ex-SFRY for which no successor country showed its interest.
The building situated at the residential part of the 17th Vienna district, was built in 1868, and it became the property of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the ex-SFRY succession procedure, and it consists of a cellar, ground floor, one floor and attic, of total surface of 415.67m2, at a parcel of 3.715 m2. The parcel situates an auxiliary building of 98.44m2 surface, which was reconstructed and is in a good shape.
FOREIGNERS PROTECTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on status of foreigners during the period of validity of a Decision on the state of natural or other disaster in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Decision sets forth the treatment of foreigners having regulated their status in Bosnia and Herzegovina and removes consequences of failing to respect deadlines for foreigners in the time of validity of the decision announcing the state of natural and other disaster on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION FOR JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice-tabled Report on implementation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Justice Sector Reform Strategy and its Action Plan for 2019, which gives a breakdown of results and challenges as to fulfilment of strategic aims at the programme activities level.
The report contains the results achieved in judicial strategic areas, criminal sentences execution, access to justice, support to economic growth, and good governance and accountable sector.
An integral part of the Strategy are conclusions and recommendations with proposed measures for BIH justice sector institutions.
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