Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 11th Session
05/11/2023
EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS: AMEDMETNS AND SUIPPLEMENTS TO HCPC LAW
The Council of Ministers defined unanimously a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on High Court and Prosecutorial Council (HCPC) - in new wording and with corrections to be inserted before it gets to the Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under shortened procedure.
The adoption of the law is an important breakthrough towards fulfilment of one of 14 priorities set by the European Commission in the European Union accession process.
The adoption of the Law, which accommodates certain opinions and suggestions by responsible European institutions and bodies will strengthen independence, responsibility, efficacy, professionalism and harmonisation of legislation system, which enables rule of law and equal access to justice in BIH.
Practically, the Ministry of Justice-prepared Proposal Law emphasises principles of integrity of holders of judiciary functions, transparency of operations, two levels of in decision-making and responsibility of holders of judiciary functions, which includes equality judges, prosecutors and HCPC members in BIH. Amendments and Supplements to the Law regulate, among other things, issues of conflict of interest with HCPC members, and introduce obligation to judges and prosecutors to report their property and interests, as one among anti-corruption measures in judiciary.
A division will be set-up for implementation of procedures per reports, as a mechanism for strengthening integrity of holders of judicial functions. The Law also steps-up disciplinary accountability of judges, prosecutors and HCPC members for disciplinary infractions.
The BIH Parliamentarian Assembly will in one year time from the Law taking effect, adopt a High Court and Prosecutorial Council Law to be fully harmonised with EU standards, as provided in the European Commission Opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina application for EU membership.
PROPOSAL LAW ON FOREGN AFFAIRS OF BIH DEFINED
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined unanimously a Proposal Law on Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with certain corrections made at the session to be incorporated into the Proposal Law before sending it to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH in regular adoption procedure.
The Proposal Law clearly distinguishes foreign policy from foreign relations, realised through diplomacy.
One of key reasons for tis adoption is progressing of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European integrations process to a full EU membership, as a strategic aim in the coming period of time.
TO ACCELERATE CONCLUSION AND EXECUTION OF INTERNATIAONAL TREATIES
The Council of Ministers adopted unanimously the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-tabled Proposal Law on Conclusion and Execution of International Treaties, with nomo-technical corrections by the Council of Ministers Legislative Office.
The new Law simplifies and accelerates procedures of conclusion and execution of international treaties, and follows the EU legal system and Vienna Convention.
The Proposal Law defines a precise the way of concluding international treaties by Bosnia and Herzegovina, from starting relevant procedure, negotiations, and treaty initialling and signing, to tis taking effect, ratification, application, publishing, depositing and all other procedures in the conclusion process.
Also legal deadlines are set for action by responsible bodies taking part in treaty preparation and application, which is especially important, having regard of expected increased number of, especially, multilateral conventions to accede to in the EU approximation process and strengthening of cooperation with NATO.
The proposal law will be provided to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for adoption under regular procedure.
BIH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND ARMED FORCES PROJECTS SUPPORTED: PROCUREMENT OF NEW HELICOPTRS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took two decisions, namely on amendments and supplement to a Decision on multi-annual project of helicopter procurement for the Ministry of Defence and BIH Armed Forces and on financing of multi-annual education project for officers in military air navigation.
CONSTRUCTION OF TWO O GAS PIPELINES - SOUTHERN AND EASTERN CONNECTION WITH CROATIA NAD SERBIA
The Council of Ministers considered a Proposal Pre-Draft Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia on construction of “Southern Interconnection of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republic of Croatia” gas pipeline, together with Platform for its conclusion.
The Council of Ministers of BIH gave unanimous support to the “South Interconnection of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia” Project.
For the aim of stepping-up all activities, the Council of Ministers of BIH urged the Government of the Federation of BIH to propose urgently a legal solution for implementation of the Project to the Government of the Federation of BIH.
A proposal Pre-Draft pf Intergovernmental Treaty between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia on construction of gas pipeline “New Eastern Interconnection between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia” running from the Republic of Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina border – Bijeljina – Prijedor - Novi Grad, together with Platform for its conclusion.
These are important strategy projects aimed to secure multiply source of gas supply, since Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently supplied from one source and from 40 years ago constructed one transport line only.
The east and south interconnection will have a key role for a long-term energy stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
BIH-EU COOPERATION VIA EUROJUST
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform and appointed a negotiating delegation for a Treaty between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on judicial cooperation in criminal matters between the European Union Agency for Cooperation in Criminal Judiciary (EUROJUST) and competent bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The conclusion of the Treaty, proposed by the Ministry of Justice, represents a strong breakthrough by Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening of prevention and combating organised crime and corruption, after it received a candidate status for EU membership.
The Treaty is focused at improvement of judicial cooperation between the Eurojust and competent bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina in fighting serious crime.
It strengthens practical cooperation in search and criminal prosecution for acts of serious crime, especially organised crime and terrorism, with provision of certain protective measures as to basic rights and freedoms of individuals, including privacy and personal data protection.
The Proposal Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure, while the Minister of Justice will be the BIH signatory.
BAN ON TIMBER EXPORT
The Council of Ministers of BH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on temporary ban of export of certain wood assortments for the reason of securing efficient quantities for BIH wood procession industry and perseverance of forests.
The decision bans export of pebbles by July 31, 2023, so as to enable domestic wood-processing operators to secure sufficient quantities of the material for their own production and thus keep jobs.
The Ministry of Foreign Grade and Economic Relations report on effects of implementation of a Decision on ban of export of certain wood products was adopted, which analysed the effects of avoiding critical shortages of wood for economy and of heating fuel for households. It stabilised the market and resulted in avoidance of transfer of disturbance from foreign to the BIH market.
The timber export data suggest that 39,762,549 kg of timber was exported in 2022, relative to 49.332.307,50 kg in 2021, when it was valued at KM 18,008,233.04. It suggests that last year saw less pebble export, but more financial gain, relative to the year before.
AIR ROUTE FEES
The Council of Ministers of BH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed Decision on setting planned levels of revenue from air navigation services (route fees) in air navigation space of Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2023.
According to the defined planned quantity of en-route funds for 2023, the Air Navigation Services Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHANSA) should get KM 70,689,706.00, including Eurocontrol expanses in amount of KIM 3,125,940,00, Directorate for Civil Aviation (BH DCA) should get KM 2,432,703.00, and the Croatian Air Control (CCL) should get KM 6,508,175,00.
The defined planned amounts of base expanses are susceptible to harmonisation in order to secure a final return of only real costs of services, and it will depend on realised transport in the BIH air space for 2023.
CYBERNETIC SECURITY: CONDITIONS FULFILED FOR OPERATION OF CERT IN BIH INSTITUTIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to a Proposal Rulebook on Amendments and Supplements to Rulebook on internal organisation of the Ministry of Security of BIH, which creates functional conditions for work of a to Computer Accidents Response Team for bodies and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with the European Commission recommendations.
The Rulebook Amendments and Supplements enable setting-up special organisation unit within the Ministry of security IT and Telecommunication Systems Department, for the aim of increasing cybernetic security in BIH Institutions.
The beginning of operation and institutional strengthening of CERT represents a systemic response in solving cybernetic crime and security treats in BIH institutions, both in countering cybernetic attacks to BIH Institutions and in the process of adaptation to the EU Directive on security of surveillance and information systems.
The Council of Ministers took a decision to designate the Ministry of Security Computer Accidents Response Team for bodies and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2017.
BIH HOSTS WESTREN BALKANS DIGITAL SUMMIT
Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the host country of the Western Balkans Digital Summit in Sarajevo in October 2023.
Minister of Communications and Transport Edin Forto will be the Summit host on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport piece of information holds a set of conclusions with assignments to bodies and institutions of the Council of Ministers of BHI for implementation of the Summit prearrangements.
The Summit is held annually in Western Balkans capitals (WB6) within the Berlin process and Action Plan for Western Balkans Common Regional Market, adopted in Sofia in November 2020.
The summit expects 300 participants, among whom high officials from the Western Balkans governments, European Commission, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), business community and experts from companies from the world, dominating over and creating digital space and new trends.
The 2023 Digital Summit costs are evaluated at about KM 350,000,000. The Summit is focused at four main platforms: digital infrastructure and connectedness, digital skills and competences, digital economy in the area of new IC technologies, and confidence and security.
SHARES SALE
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a piece of information as to status of ALTA Bank, jsc Belgrade, and accepted an offer by the Alta Pay Group, Ltd. Belgrade from April 4 for sales of 10,352 shares, in accordance with the offer.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury should, as a shareholder in the Alta bank, implement, on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a procedure of sales of shares and report it to the Council of Ministers of BIH. Selling the shares, Bosnia and Herzegovina would get EUR 340,770.25. These are ex-SFRY shares held with the Yugoslav Bank for International Economic Cooperation (JUMBES), distributed in 2006 by a Committee for Distribution of Financial Assets and Debts of Ex-SFRY, under the Agreement on Succession Issues Annex C. BIH got 533 shares valued at EUR 100,000.00 or 15.5 % out of total 3,440 shares. The JUMES Bank was then renamed to Alta Bank jsc. Belgrade.
Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small shareholder and it cannot have effect to decision-making processes, so it was decided to sell the shares.
BIH AT CONECTEDNESS SUMMIT IN MONTENEGRO
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on BIH participation at the Connectedness Summit in 2023, titled “Sustainable Links – Economic Strengthening”, to be held in Budva on May 15 and 16, this year.
The Minister of Cimmunications and Transport of BIH will take part at the event, having previously held consultations with competent Entity Ministers.
The Summit is held in the atmosphere of earlier agreements by the European Union and Western Balkans countries, in accordance with a Contract on Transport Community, which showed a commitment for support to enlargement of the Trans-European Transport Network (Ten-T) to the Western Balkans.
APPROVED ENTRANCE TO BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on approving entrance and stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina under special condition to citizens of the Republic of Serbia, elementary school pupils from Kosovo, without valid transport documents, in time period from June 24 to July 2, 2023, for their study trip, excursion.
It is about 738 pupils arriving in two groups and during their stay in BIH they will be accommodated in local communities in Republika Srpska.
The visit organiser is Banjaluka-based Humanitarian Civil Association “Support Committee for Kosovo and Metohija”.
APPOINTMENTS
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Josip Merdža for Director of the Intellectual Property Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Civil Service Agency Opinion. It is about the best ranked candidate after completed public ad procedure, implemented by the Civil Service Agency of BIH.
The session appointed Zoran Zeljko for Director of the Directorate for Economic Planning of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as the best ranked candidate.
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Mijo Krešić for Acting Director of the Anti-Doping Control Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina until the end of job vacancy procedure, three months at longest, starting from May 3, so that the Agency might continue operating legally.
Also, Vedad Hindija was appointed Acting Director of the Agency for Labour and Employment, starting from May 1, 2023, until the end of the job vacancy procedure, for three months at longest.
The aim is to enable the Agency for Labour and Employment to have its legal representative after May 1, 2023, when the three-month temporary term of Hindija expires.
Upon a proposal by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, a decision was taken on amendment of the Decision on appointment of Council of the Agency for Air Navigation Services of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHANSA). (end)