Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 40th Session
02/26/2024
The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed Decision on Amendment of a Decision on appointment to a Committee for Arms and Military Equipment Tade Control.
Under the new decision, Colonel Joso Pejić, representative from the Ministry of Defence, was appointed to the Committee, instead of Brigadier Darko Marjanović, who was retired.
BIH AND ITALY TO RECOGNISE DRIVERS' LICENCES
Upon a proposal by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, a new text of a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Italy on mutual recognition in replacement of drivers' licences, was defined, and will be sent to the BIH Presidency.
Conclusion of the Agreement sets a legal framework for mutual recognition of drivers' licences based on reciprocity, which is good news for BIH citizens living in Italy and waiting for the issue solution since 2016.
The earlier Agreement, endorsed by the BIH Presidency in 20216, was proposed to be declared invalid, after the other party showed no readiness for its singing due to unagreed certain issues concerning personal data protection in procedures of issuance of replacing car drivers' licences.
ROAD MAP IMPLEMENTATION FOR OF EU DIRECTIVE IMPLEMETNATION ON REGUALTED PROFESSIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information tabled by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on implementation of a Road Map for implementation of the EU Directive on regulated professions 2005/36EC and 2013/55EU, with a breakdown of relevant activities implemented in the area from September 2022 to August 2023.
The Council of Ministers of BIH urged all relevant institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to intensify their implementation of activities contributing to realisation of the Road Map recommendations for implementation of the EU Directive on regulated professions 20225/36EC and 2013/55EU.
The Council of Ministers took a decision on adoption of the Road Map for implementation of regulated professions 2005/36EC and 2013/55EU2, in year 2015; the Road Map sets certain priorities, steps for transposing the Directive to Bosnia and Herzegovina legislation.
BIH IN HORIZON EUROPA PROGRAMME
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information from the Ministry of Civil Affairs on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union Framework Programme for research and innovations “Horizon Europa” in a new text.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs should organise a meeting with responsible Entity institutions in BIH on improvement of successfulness in participation in the Horizon Europe Programme, and inform the Council of Ministers accordingly.
According to the European Commission, organisations from BIH submitted 223 applications, out of which 192 applications met legal-formal criteria. Contracts on use of grant funds were signed for 21 projects under the Horizon Europa Programme, and EUR 3.68 mil. from the Programme was allocated by Dec. 2022 for projects from BIH.
The Horizon Europa is made of three main vertical programme pillars: excellence in science; global challenges and European industrial competitiveness; and innovative Europe. Organisations form BIH take part in two projects under excellence in science and 11projects under global challenges and European industrial competitiveness area.
Participation of BIH was increased in the EU Research Programme relative to the previous 2020 Horizon Programme (2014-2020).
The Ministry of Civil Affairs implemented in 2023 both current grant “Programme for preparation of projects and potential candidate projects for Horizon Europa funds” and current grant “Support to technical culture and innovations in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
RATIFICATION OF UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION ACT
The Council of Ministers defined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-proposed Proposal Decision on Ratification of the Universal Postal Union Act, adopted by the 27th Regular Congress of the Universal Postal Union, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in 2021, and will pass it to the BIH Presidency.
Bosnia and Herzegovina thus fulfils obligations assumed by its membership in the Universal Postal Union and joins other members in supporting continuous development of effective and available postal services.
MACROECONOMIC INDICES FOR JANUARY-OCTOBER 2023
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Directorate for Economic Planning of BIH on macroeconomic trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January-October 2023.
According to relevant statistics, a growth of economic activities was continued in 2023, however much slower relative to the year before, due to price increase, weakening of economic growth in countries-trade partners and partially due to high basic salary from previous year. The key element of economic growth is the domestic demand through increased spending and investments, partially.
On the other side, the economic activity slowdown was continued. In January-October 2023, a fall of physical volume was registered in industrial production, together with fall of production in processing industry and mining, while a slight grow was registered in electric power generation.
When it comes to a labour market, the number of employees continued to grow in September 2023, relative to previous month, as well as relative to September 2022. Yet, year-to-year increase of employment rate slowed from the begging of the year due to deceased number of employees in some activities, notably processing industry.
The growth of a total number of employees was largely supported by increased number in trade, education, accommodation, and catering, including ICT activities.
On the other side, the number of registered unemployed persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to decrease with gradual decrease of unemployment rate.
The average net salary in September 2023 was higher relative to the same month a year ago, but with a slower real growth due to inflation.
Due to weakening of economic growth and demand in BIH export markets in the European Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina marked a decrease of export of goods in January-October 2023. On the other side, a growth of global consumer prices affected domestic demand, which resulted in a decreased import of goods to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to such export-import trends, the total goods deficit in January-September 2023 was somewhat higher relative to the same time a year ago.
Inflation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was gradually decreasing and in October 2023, and it reached the lowest point from the beginning of the year.
During January-October 2023 time span, positive trends of annual collection of public revenues were continued. The major contribution to the growth of total public revenues were due to tax revenues, equally from both direct and indirect taxes.
MEETING OF EU-BIH SUB-COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORT, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on holding of the seventh meeting of the Sub-Committee for Transport, Energy, Environment and Regional Development between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, scheduled for March 21. 2024.
The Directorate for European Integrations should, in cooperation with competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission competent services, take all necessary activities for holding of the seventh meeting of the Sub-Committee for Transport, Energy, Environment and Regional Development between the European Commission and Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Chair of Bosnia and Herzegovina Delegation should be available to media for any inquiries relevant to the meeting. (end)