Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 19th Session
07/26/2023
The Council of Ministers of BIH assigned to the Ministry of Justice of BIH urgent formation of a work group for development of draft laws from the area of rule of law and judiciary, required for implementation of 14 key priorities from 2019 European Commission Opinion on Membership Application and of EC 8+1 recommendations, made in 2020.
The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina should form urgently a work group for development of draft laws from the area of security, required for implementation of the 14 key priorities and recommendations.
The Ministry for Communication and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina should form urgently a work group for development and harmonisation of draft laws form the area of communications, required for implementation of 14 key priorities and recommendations.
All these Ministries should include into their relative work groups representatives from sector institutions from other authority levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
BIH IN CENTRALEUROEPAN EXCHANGE PRORGRAMME FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES – CEEPUS IV
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies – CEEPUS IV, by which BIH continues to contribute to development in eth European high education and regional academic mobility among 15 South and Central European countries.
The programme promotes a net of Central European universities and scientific institutions, it stimulates academic mobility, especially student mobility in Central Europe, and development of joint programmes yielding the issuance of joint or double diplomas to students included into CEEPUS networks.
BIH was included into the Central European exchange programme for university studies in 2007, within which over 100.000 monthly scholarships in 15 European countries were secured for the programme affiliates. The CEEPUS IV should take effect in 2025, to replace CEEPUS III, in which BIH is currently active.
The proposal Agreement for Central European Programme of Exchange for University Studies - CEEPUS IV – with a platform for its conclusion will be sent to the BIH Presidency, with a proposal for the Minister of Civil Affairs as the BIH signatory thereof.
AGREEMENT WITH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY FOR ATOMIC ENERGY
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for Accession of BIH to an Agreement between the European Community for Atomic Energy (Euratom) and EU non-member counties on participation of these countries in the community arrangements for early exchange of information in case of radiological emergency (Ecurie).
The aim is to secure effective and timely data exchange between Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU countries in emergency situations caused by radiological threat.
Acceding to the Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina will improve its ionising radiation protection system and protect its citizens and environment from its potential adverse effects, which may arise due to extraordinary situations with radioactive and nuclear material.
It will also strengthen capacities for implementation of international obligations, in accordance with a Convention on early notification on nuclear accident, and will improve possibility to get international assistance as to the system monitoring.
To accede to the Agreement is important for BIH also for the reason of further approximation and institutionalisation of relations with the European Union in the process of stabilisation and accession.
The proposal platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will be the BIH signatory thereof.
FUNDS DISTRIBUTION FOR FLOOD REHABILITATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, with some corrections made at the session, on distribution of the BIH Institutions 2023 Budget current reserve funds to the Ministry of Security of BIH for rehabilitation form floods that occurred this May.
Under the decision, funds in amount of KM 1 million were distributed evenly to the Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska, specifically to the most affected municipalities and towns.
In the Federation of BHH, funds were distributed to the most affected towns and municipalities, so appropriate amounts were distributed to Bihać, Bosanska Krupa, Sanski Most, Bužim and Bosanski Petrovac, Velika Kladuša, and Ćelić (KM 50,000 each), to Cazin (KM 100,000), and to Teočak and Sapna (KM 25.000 each).
In republika Srpska, KM 500k was distributed to the most affected municipalities, namely, to Novi Grad (KM 200,000), and Prijedor, Kozarska Dubica and Kostajnica (KM 100,000 each).
Proposal distribution lists were provided to the Ministry of Security by responsible Entity civil protection administrations.
GRANTS BY MINISTRY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on use of grants to the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2023, with corrections made at the session.
Total KM 1,756,000.00 were current transfers, grants and other current expenditures from the Ministry.
This way, “current transfers to other authority levels” were allocated for housing (KM 840,000), for employment (KM 200,000), health care (KM 300,000) and education of Roma (KM 40,000). Resources for improvement of living conditions of Roma in BIH are intended to be passed to local communities and to be distributed in approximate levels to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 62.66%, Republika Srpska (31.34%), and to the Brčko District of BIH 6%, for the purpose of realisation of aims defined in the 2021-2025 Action Plan for Social Inclusion of Roma.
Local governance units for implementation of Cooperation Policy with Emigration got KM 80,000 grant funds, based on criteria defined under the decision, for projects, based on public calls.
As to “grants to non-profit organisations”, funds are allocated to associations of disabled persons (KM 66,000), national minority organisations (KM 100,000), associations of families of missing persons in BIH (KM 50,000), and to organisations for human rights promotion in BIH (KM 80,000). The grant funds will be allocated to associations and foundations from Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the Decision and Rulebook on criteria for financing and co-financing of projects in public interest, according to criteria defend under the decision and based on public ad.
SUPPORT TO FAIR EVENTS IN-COUNTRY AND ABROAD
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on criteria for distribution of current grants approved to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations for support to fair events in-country and abroad for year 2023. The decision was taken for the aim of promotion and development of BIH economy.
The decision defines conditions, criteria and way of distribution of grants for support to fair events, worth total KM 900k, of which KM 600k was intended for support to fair and other events in-country, and KM 300k are for support to fair and other events and activities abroad.
The funds are to be allocated to organisers of fair and other events and activities in-country and abroad for the purpose of promotion of development and economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Taking this decision, the Council of Ministers of BIH wants to incite entrepreneurial activities, especially those of youth and women, improve possibilities of networking with consumers and business partners, improve competitiveness and enable presentation of new products at market and better positioning of entrepreneurs at the existing and new markets.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will publish a call for allocation of the resources to organisers of fair and other events and activities in-country and abroad, at its web site and in three daily papers distributed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
CoMBIH DEFIENS CRITERIA FOR PROJECT CO-FINANCING IN CULTURE, SPORTS, INNOVATIONS, EU PROGRAMMES, AND HIV AND TBC PREVENTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took six decisions defining criteria for distribution of grant funds of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in 2023 for support to projects in culture, sports, innovations, project preparation for Horizon Europa Fund, and for co-financing of NGO projects as to HIV, TBC and addiction prevention in BIH.
The funds will be allocated in accordance with criteria defined under the decision, by severally published public ads at the Ministry of Civil Affairs web site, with relevant notifications to be published in three daily papers distributed throughout BIH.
These are decision on criteria for allocation of current grant funds for 2023, namely, for “Co-Financing of NGO projects in prevention of HIV, TBC and addiction in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “International Cultural Cooperation”, Programmes for projects and potential candidates preparation for Horizon Europa Fund, “Co-Financing of Cultural Projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “Co-Financing of Sports Events”, and “Support to Technical Culture and Innovations in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
ARBITRAGE PROCEDURE IN GIKIL Ltd. LUKAVAC FILE
The Council of Ministers of BIH considered a piece of information by the BIH Chief Attorney’s Office as to launched arbitrage procedure by claimant Pramod Mittal and others against Bodnia and Herzegovina after Governments of the Federation of BIH and Tuzla Canton refused to conclude an appropriate proposal agreement on mutual rights and obligations, following earlier signed agreements with the Government of Republika Srpska concerning arbitrage procedures.
The BIH Chief Attorney’s Office warned Governments of the Federation of BIH and Tuzla Canton, upon the 16th session of the Council of Ministers, at their responsibility and their obligations stemming from Article 29 of the Law on conclusion and execution of international treaties, urging them to conclude a modified agreement on mutual rights and obligations as to arbitrage procedure in file GIKIL Ltd. Lukavac, by complainant Pramod Mittal, Sangeeta Mittal and Divyesh Mittal against defendant Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took appropriate conclusions, having regard of seriousness of prospective consequences to come out from the on-going arbitrate procedure, for the aim of protection of legal and financial interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The BIH Chief Attorney’s Office will select a specialised law firm for international investment disputes, to act together with Bosnia and Herzegovina in this arbitrage procedure.
The Chief Attorney Office will, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, prepare and provide urgently a proposal act on approval of funds for the arbitrage procedure in legal matter of claimant Pramod Mittal and others against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with arbitrage rules of the UN Committee for International Commercial Law (UNCITRAL Rules).
The Council of Ministers of BIH asked the BIH Chief Attorney’s Office to take all needed legal acts for the aim of protection of BIH from the lower authority levels, to which the case refers.
ACCOMMODATION OF ITA STAFF IN BANJA LUKA
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on amendments and supplements to a Decision approving a facility procurement and development project for regional centres and Central Office of the Indirect Taxation Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ITA BIH) and for reconstruction of border crossings.
Under the decision, the ITA 2023 budget will secure missing KM 31,500,000 for procurement and furbishing of the Central Office and of Regional Centre Banja Luka, so that the total procurement value to be implemented in 2023 is KM 69,400,00, of which civil construction would cost KM 67,500,00 and equipment would be KM 1,900,000.
By an earlier decision, approved were KM 37,900,000 for these purposes, of which KM 36,000,000 for the facility and KM 1,900,000 for furbishing, which was not sufficient, and public ads for the facility procurement were annulled, as no acceptable bid arrived.
This decision practically joined funds required for a permanent solution of the accommodation and improvement of operation in the ITA BIH Central Office and Regional Centre, and this presumes a long-term savings of finds, since leasing is being financed for several separated and distant facilities in Banja Luka.
ACTIVITIES STARTED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NARCOTIC DRUGS CONTROL STRATEGY
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision to set-up a work group for development of a proposal state strategy for narcotic drugs control, prevention and suppression of use of narcotic drugs and 2024-2028 state action plan for combating misuse of narcotic drugs in BIH, with certain corrections made at the session.
The work group to be comprised of representatives of competent state, Entity and the Brčko District institutions, should, within six month- time from taking effect of the Decision, develop and provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH a proposal state strategy for narcotic drugs control, prevention and suppression of misuse of narcotic drugs, and 2024-2028 state action plan of combating against misuse of narcotic drugs in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
MANDATE EXPIRY
The Council of Ministers took note of several pieces of information by the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office on mandate expiry to Deputy Coordinator for Public Administration Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina Ferid Otajagić (mandate expired last March).
The Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH, in cooperation with the Chairwoman’s Office will start a job vacation ad procedure for the post, in accordance with Law on ministerial appointments, appointments to the Council of Ministers and other appointments of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Also, a pieces of information were noted about mandate expiry to Coordinator of Civil Administration Reform Dragan Ćuzlan in mid-October 2023, and Deputy Coordinator for Civil Administration Reform in BIH Darko Kasap (mandate expired in early August 2023), so the Secretariat-General will, in cooperation with Chairwoman Office launch a procedure for selection and appointment of Deputy Coordinator of the Civil Administration Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will urgently provide the Proposal Decision on criteria for appointment of Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator to the Council of Ministers, tougher with a proposal decision on appointment of selection committee members, in accordance with the Law on ministerial appointments, appointments to the Council of Ministers of BIH and other appointments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council of Ministers took note of a piece of information by the BIH Agency for Civil Service that Deputy Manager of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury Central Harmonisation Unit ends his mandate on Dec. 31, 2023.
The Agency for Civil Service is obliged to publish an public job vacancy ad towards the end of the respective mandate of this managerial civil servant.
IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN CoMBIH AND GOVEREMENT OF CROATIA ON MONITORING OF STATE BORDER
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security-presented report on implementation of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Croatia on cooperation in state border surveillance in 2022.
The BIH representatives appointed into a joint coordination body responsible for monitoring of the Agreement implementation and other competent bodies of BIH are obliged to incite future meetings of the body with representatives of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia.
According to the report, joint plans of the BIH Border Police and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia on conducting joint patrols at local and regional levels, with agreement of the central level, were mostly successfully implemented last year. Total 1019 joint patrols were conducted with police officers of the Croatian Ministry of Interior, of which 527 in BIH and 492 in Croatia, in which 2,863 police officers were engaged – 1,407 from the Border Police of BIH ad 1.456 form the Croatian Ministry of Interior.
REALISED 76% CONCUSION IN Q I THIS YEAR
The session considered a review of realisation of the Council of Ministers conclusions for January 1 – March 31, 2023, drafted by the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH.
In the Q I this year, total 12 sessions of the Council of Ministers were held, seven regular and 5 extraordinary ones.
Total 28 institutions under the Council of Ministers of BIH realised 187 out of 247 conclusions, namely, 76% fully, while 60% were not realised.
The review of the conclusions implementation follows appropriate follow-up conclusion, aimed to increase effectiveness of operation of the Council of Ministers of BIH.(end)