Council of Ministers of BIH Holds its 30th Session

CoM APPOINTS AD HOC WORK BODY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF REFORMS PLAN 

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed an ad hoc Work Body for development of Reforms Plan for implementation of the last month adopted European Commission 2024-2026 Western Balkans Growth Plan.

This Work Body, comprised of the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Ministers of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Communications and Transport, and Finance and Treasury, in addition to Director of the Directorate for European Integrations of BIH and Director of Directorate for Economic Planning, together with representatives of the Government of the Federation of BIH and Government of Republika Srpska, precisely of the Ministry of Finance of Republika Srpska, should develop BIH reforms plan  for the Western Balkans Growth Plan, by Dec. 6, 2023 Brussels meeting.

The ad hoc Work Body will be in the next phase replaced by teams for development of projects package financed from the EU Western Balkans Growth Plan financial resources.

ADDITIONAL KM 260k TO FUND FOR RETURN

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on a redistribution of KM 260,000 from the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees Budget to the BIH Fund for Return, thus increasing a total distribution to KM 2.260.000.

It is about an additional grant for realisation of projects for financing of the Dayton Peace Accords Annex VII related rights, provided by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees through restructuring its 2023 budget. The funds were secured based on a decrease of the Ministry expenditures, implying savings on salaries and reimbursements, transport, fuel and phone and postal costs.

The Council of Ministers took a decision, at its 20^th session of this August, on redistribution of KM 2 million from the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees budget to the Fund for Return, for the implementation of the Financing Rights from the Annex VII Projects, pending approval by the BIH Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons.

SPEECH OF HATRED RESPONSES MAPPING

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Mapping of Responses to Speech of Hatred in Bosnia and Herzegovina proposal document, to be posted at the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees web site.

The document represents a systemic breakthrough to suppression of speech of hatred in BIH, which, along with a comprehensive review of the state of affairs, presents a road map and needed priority measures in combating speech of hatred, discrimination and intolerance in BIH.

The documents was developed by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, in partnership with the European Union and Council of Europe, through the “Promotion of Diversities and Equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina” Project, implemented within a “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey II” EU and Council of Europe Joint Programme.

Other than the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH, the document recognises the state, entity and institutions of the Brčko District of BIH as relevant parties, together with the Institution of Ombudsman, High Court and Prosecutorial Council, courts, prosecutor Offices, Ministries of Interior and Justice, Communications Regulatory Agency, Council for Printed and On-Line Media, Central Election Committee, Inter-Religious Council, gender equality institutions, NGOs, sports associations, media and international organisations in BIH.

NEW LEGISLATION ON BORDER CONTROL AND PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION TO BE HARMONISED WITH EU STANDARDS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on setting-up a work group for development of a Law on Border Control, for the sake of harmonisation thereof with the European standards in border security.

The work group comprised of representatives of relevant institutions at state, entity and the Brčko District institutions, was established as a temporary cross-agency and expert body of the Council of Ministers of BIH, which is obliged to draft a Law on Border Control, by March 31, 2024.

Upon a proposal by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a decision was taken to set-up a cross-sector work group for development of a Draft Law on Protection of Personal Data, with corrections made at the session.

A Stabilisation and Accession Agreement between the European Communities, on one side, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on other side, signed in 2008 and taking effect in 2016, provides that, with the Agreement taking effect, Bosnia and Herzegovina shall harmonise its legislation on personal data protection with the Community legislation and other European and international legislation on privacy.

MIGRANT CRISIS MANAGEMENT MEASURES IMPLEMENTATION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security-tabled piece of information on implementation of a Measures and Activities Plan for Effective Management of Migrant Crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, conclusive with June 30, 2023.

According to the piece of information, out of total planned 127 activities, 96 were in the process of implementation, among which 63 activities are on-going, as planned, 33 activities were partially implemented, while 31 activities have not been started or adequate data missed.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, in December 2020, a Plan of Measures and Activities for an effective management of migrant crisis, defining aims of the migrations management.

TO PROTECT INTEREST OF BIH AS TO MONEY RECOVERY FROM GAVI

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on results of negotiations between Bosnia and Herzegovina negotiating team and representatives of GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) for return of unspent money of Bosna and Herzegovina.

The BIH Chief Attorney’s Office should take necessary legal actions for protection and property and property interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina and inform the Council of Ministers of BIH on conditions and requirements for its successful representation in this proceeding.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH will, in coordination with relevant state Ministries of Finance and Treasury and Justice and with Entity Ministries of Health and the Brčko District Health Department, support the BIH Chief Attorney’s Office in protection of property and property interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The decision was made after futile negotiations of BIH negotiating team with GAVI representatives as to return of unspent money resources, plaid earlier by BIH for procurement of vaccines, partially only distributed by GAVI.

Gavi fulfilled only partially its obligations from its contract concluded with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and total 332,640 or 27% of ordered 1,232,000 vaccines for COVID-19 were delivered through its mediation.

However, Gavi keeps insisting to payment of exit costs in amount of USD 1,615,200.00.

EUROPEAN ANTI-TRAFFICKING DAY

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to provide KM 10,000 from the Ministry of Security of BIH budget for a grant for “Marking October 18 – European Anti-Trafficking Day”.

The funds are to be distributed to the Bijeljina-based “Lara” Fund for a continuous awareness rising campaign on a comprehensive issue-rising on human trafficking in BIH, thus strengthening cooperation with relevant NGOs.

The European anti-trafficking day was included to a Programme of marking significant human rights-related dates in BIH and is being marked appropriately annually.

REVISED STATE WAR CRIME FILES STRATEGY

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice-tabled piece of information on conclusion by a Supervisory Body for implementation of a Revised State Strategy for Addressing War Crimes Files.

The session endorsed a proposal by the Supervisory Body to prolong the implementation of the Revised State Strategy Aim I “Processing of Most Complex and Prioritised War Crime Files before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Other War Crime Files before Entity and Brčko District of BIH Judicial Bodies by End 2023”, by the end of 2025.

The piece of information suggests that the dynamics thus far of addressing war crime files and number of remaining unsolved war crimes files before BIH judiciary point at impossibility of solving thereof by the end of this year, as it was originally prescribed.

It also reminds that the mandate of the Supervisory Body started two and half years after the adoption of the Revised Strategic document, i.e. in the year of expiry of the Revised State Strategy for War Crime Files.

The Ministry of Justice will prepare and provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH a relevant decision for the deadline prolongation for implementation of the Revised State Strategy for War Crime Files by the end of 2025.

BILATERAL AGREEMENTS ON INVESTMENTS PROMOTION AND PROTECTION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted and will pass to the BIH Presidency and Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH a piece of information by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on implementation of bilateral agreements on promotion and protection of investments, concluded by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the piece of information Bosnia and Herzegovina has total 41 concluded agreements on promotion and protection of investments and all took effect, of which 38 relate to investments promotion and protection, while three agreements are on unilateral basis and are exclusive of all elements of investments protection.

Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded almost two thirds of the agreements in time period from 1996 to 2000, mostly with EU member-countries and ex-Yugoslavia successor countries.

The piece of information reviews the concluded agreements, analyses implementation thereof, focusing at results, and gives recommendations and proposals for improvement of situation in the area. (end)

Link for photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720312972848