Council of Ministers of BIH Holds its 21st Session

MINISTER AMIDŽIĆ IS CHAIR OF CoM BIH ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Office of Chairwoman-proposed decision to amend decision on appointment of CoM BIH Economic Committee Chair, Deputy Chair and members, thus appointing Minister of Finance and Treasury Srđan Amidžić for the Chair.

Minister Amidžić replaced at the post Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac.

DECISION ON CESSATION OF STATE OF NATURAL OR OTHER EMERGENCY IN BIH TERRITORY

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on cessation of the state of natural or other emergency in territory of BIH, declared in March 2020, due to threat of spreading od Covid-19 infectious disease.

By the decision taking effect, all relevant institutions will return to a regular operations.

Earlier, the Entity Governments invalidated their decisions on the state of emergency, and the World Health Organisation stated that COVID-19 disease is not any longer considered a public health treat causing international concern. The decision, taking effect as at day on the adoption thereof will be published in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.

BORDER-CROSSINGS FOR TRANSPORT OF ARMS AND MILITARY EQUIPEMNT, DANGEROUS AND EXPLOSIVE AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on defining international border crossings for transport of arms and military equipment, dangerous, explosive and radioactive materials, and goods of dual purpose.

The decision refers to border crossings in road traffic (Doljani, Bijača, Kmensko, Izačić, Gradina, Gradiška, Brod, Orašje, Rača, Vardište and Klobuk) for import, export and transit of these goods, while in air transport the airports are Sarajevo, Mostar, Banjaluka and Tuzla., for railway transport these stations in Brčko, Šamac, Čapljina, Martin Brod and Zvornik.

The transport of goods across the international border crossing “Brod” is possible to take place in time between 22.00 and 6.00 hours, but only for import and export of liquid oil derived substances, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum bitumen, and liquid and granulated sulphur.  Transport across the border crossing “Gradiška” is possible in work days in time between 22.00 and 6.00 hrs.

The decision takes effect on the eighth day of its publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”, when the previous one ceases to be valid.

WORK GROUP FOR HARMONSIATION OF REGULATIONS ON ARMS AND AMMUNITION    

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on formation of a Work Group for harmonisation of regulations on arms and ammunition mutually and with the European Union acquis.

The Work Group includes representatives from the Ministry of Security fi BIH, Directorate for European Integrations, Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska, the Brčko District Police, and Cantonal Ministries of Interior in the Federation of BIH. Appointed Chair of the Work Group will be Ermin Pešto from the Ministry of Security of BIH.

The Work Group is assigned a harmonisation of regulations on arms and ammunition within six months from adoption of the decision, so that they would be mutually harmonised in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with relevant existing acquis of the European Union.

Currently, there are 21 laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina on arms and ammunition. Since these laws and by-laws are not harmonised with acquis of the EU, neither are mutually harmonised, it becomes problematic when one in possession of an arms document passes from the territory of ne canton to another or from one Entity to the other or from an Entity to the Brčko District of BIH. Besides, o procedure has been defined for harmonisation of cantonal regulations with the EU acquis.

After it completes its task, the work group will report to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

BIH IN EU PROGRAMME: CITIZENS, EQUALITY, RIGHTS AND VALUES

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union on participation in a Programme “Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values - CVERV” 2021-2027.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will in this way join the European Union countries in protection and promotion of rights and values of the EU, after it experienced a successful participation in the Programme EU “Europe for citizens” in two occasions namely in 2007-2013 and 2014-2020.

The BIH participation in CERRV programme will maintain continuity and development of new partnership between Bosnian and European cities, which prioritise organisation by civil society and local communities on cultural sports and economic area.

The Ministry of Justice of BIH will provide the Proposal Agreement with a Platform for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and BIH signatory will be the Head of BIH Mission with the European Union.

ADDITIONAL EUR 6.5 MILLION FOR WATER SUPPLY IN BRČKO DISTRICT OF BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled Initiative and appointed a negotiating delegation for conclusion of a Contract on Amendments and Supplements No.1 to a Loan Contract of April 12, 0222 (Green Towns 2-Window II. Water Pipeline Brčko) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

So, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development extends additional loan to Bosnia and Herzegovina, worth EUR 6.5 million, as much as the original loan amounted, so that the total indebtedness is EUR 13 million; the loan is allocated to the Brčko District of BIH.

The project implementation will enable conditions for improved operation of the existing system of water supply of the town of Brčko and surrounding communities, with preparation of technical conditions for tis further extension.

The loan terms remain the same as in the original contract, with 15 year repayment deadline, including a three-year grace period.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will, after completion of the negotiations provide a draft agreement with platform for its conclusion to the Council of Ministers of BIH, in accordance with the Law on Borrowing, Debt and Guarantees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

PROJECT REALISATION UNDER PUBLIC INVESTEMENT PROGRAMME LAST YEAR

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on spending of resources in 2022, for financing of projects within the Public Investments Programme/Development-Investment Programme of Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions (PJI/RIP IBIH) 202-2024, which will be published at the official web site of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The piece of information covers data on 144 projects, namely, 73 on-going projects, 30 completed projects, seven projects that changed its status in the course of 2022 and 34 subsequently registered projects, not a part of PJI/RIP IBIH2022-2024, but in the process of realisation in the course of 2022.

Projects planned and included in PJI/RIP IBIH 2022-2024, total 110 of them, are worth KM one billion and 214.30 million, and in 2022 KM 97.70 million or 33.37% of the planned amount was spent. Out of total spent resources in 2022, about 48% refers to interventions in socio-economic development (RIP), and about 52% refers to investments in administrative-technical capacities.

The piece of information covers a review of financial realisation of 34 projects, subsequently registered by 11 institutions of BIH, of total value of KM 175.76 million, the realisation of which was KM 52.35 in 2022. All subsequently registered projects are financed from foreign resources (grants), and 12 projects are co-financed from domestic resources (budget) .

All institutions of the Council of Ministers are obliged, and others are urged to act in accordance with a Decision on way and criteria for preparation, drafting and monitoring of implementation of the Public Investment Programme/Development-Investment Programme of BIH Institutions and with Instructions for candidacy of new projects and up-dating of the on-going projects in the Ministry of Finance and Treasury Public Investment Management System.

DRAFT PROPOSAL PJI/RIP IBIH 2024-2026 ADOTPED

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed 2024-2026 Draft Proposal Programme of Public Investments / Development-Investment Programme of BIH Institutions (PJI/RIP IBIH).

All institutions of the Council of Ministers of BIH are assigned and other institutions are urged  to up-date projects data, in accordance with changes that occurred and changes relevant to a process of  BIH Institutions and international obligations of BIH budget drafting for year 2024. After that, but at October 1, at latest, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH should prepare and send to the Council of Ministers for adoption the Proposal Programme of Public Investments / Development-Investment Programme of BIH Institutions for 2024-2026.

The Draft Proposal 2024-2026 PJI/RIP IBIH contains data on total 268 projects, the total value of which is KM 2,604.29 million, of which KM 1,261.68 million refers to 122 projects in the implementation process, KM 36.76 million refers to 21 approved projects, and KM 1,306.85 million refers to 125 candidate projects.

Out of the total value of all projects, KM 2,060.91 refers to capital projects investments, and KM  543,39 million refers to investments to institutional projects. The value of projects directly contributing to socio-economic development and classified into development-investment programme are KM 959.34 million, and the value of other projects is KM 1,644.95 million.

The PJI/RIP/BIH is a planning instrument enabling better use of budget resources and offering a better access to foreign sources of financing, since available budget funds are not always sufficient to finance multi-annual projects. Also, PJI/RIP/BH serves as a foundation for arranging development of capital expenditures of BIH Institutions, containing a view of capital projects to be realised over the future plan period.

ANITA MARKIĆ APPOINTED FOR ADS DIRECTOR

Based on implemented public job vacancy ad procedure, the Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Anita Markić for Director of the Civil Service Agency of BIH to a five-year term.

Also a decision was taken of release form duty of Neven Akšamija due to term expiry.

ANNUAL QUOTA FOR WORK PERMITS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took, in the second round of vote, the Ministry of Civil Affairs-proposed Decision on annual quota of work permits for foreigners’ employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023.

The total annual quota of work permits for extension or new employment of foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023 is 3,995, of which in the Federation of BIH there are 2.435 work permits, and in Republika Sprska 1,400 and the Brčko District of BIH 160 work permits.

Year 2023 saw total increase of annual quotas of work permits, which was 2,540 in 0222.

Independently of annual quota of work permits for employment of foreigners in BIH, work permits may be issued in cases prescribed under the Law on Foreigners in BIH Article 65.(end)