Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 26th Extraordinary, Phone Session

PROPOSAL LAW ON PREVENTION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST ADOPTED 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted unanimously a new text Proposal Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in institutions at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina - with an “EI” mark, as a conformation of certain level of harmonisation with the European Union legislation and relevant international practice - and will pass it to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under urgent procedure.

The adoption, of the Ministry of Justice-proposed Law fulfils one of 14 priorities in the area of rule of law within the European integrations process of BIH, and it is one of key requirements for getting a candidate status.

The aim of the Law is prevention of conflict of interests in serving public offices in BIH-level institutions, i.e. removal of private influences to decision-making, strengthening of integrity, objectivity, independence, impartiality and transparency in serving public office, prevention and fight against corruption, and boosting citizens’ confidence in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina,.

With widely defined conflict of interest in accordance with the Council of Europe standards, the proposed Law lists precisely obligations and responsibilities of holders of public offices, incompatibility in serving other office or engaging in other activities, by introduction of clear and single rules limiting performing of several functions or jobs.

The Proposal Law holds, among other things, provisions on mandatory reporting on financial status and property of holders of public office and their close relatives, data checking and publishing of a register of holders of public offices and their property, including provisions pertaining to establishment of a seven-member independent committee to rule on conflict of interest in BIH-level institutions.

In accordance with the Law provisions, a holder of public office in BIH-level institutions should submit a report on his/her financial situation and property of his/her and close relatives to the Committee within 30-day deadline from taking relevant office, and subsequently annually, by March 31 of current year at latest, for the year ago. Data form public register of property of holders of public offices, their close relatives and individuals connected to them in BIH Institutions will be published at the Committee official web site in accordance with the existing regulations on protection of personal data. (end)