Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 47th Session

SUPPORT TO FARMERS 

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took unanimously a decision on opening of temporary tariff quotas for import of mineral fertilizers, as support to farmers following disturbance at global market and surge of prices.

The decision enables, temporarily, by Dec. 31, 2022, a free of charge import of 100k tonnes of mineral fertilisers, and sets-up criteria for application of temporary tariff quotas and way of distribution.

The Council of Ministers of BIH, in cooperation with the Entity Governments and sector Ministries, seeks to assist farmers in provision of adequate quantities of agro-technical measures, primarily for crops and other farmed cultures nourishing for an aim of high quality yield, in order to prevent food deficiency in BIH and mitigate price rises, all in the interest of citizens.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations proposed the decision after Chairman of the Council of Ministers Zoran Tegeltija reached an agreement to adopt it at a meeting last week, with President of the Government of Republika Srpska Radovan Višković, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fadil Novalić, and BIH Minister Staša Košarac.

 

BAN ON TIMBER EXPORT IN SECOD ROUND OF VOTE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to agree on temporary export ban as to certain forest wood assortments, and will pool again in the second round of voting.

 

SECOUND ROUND OF VOTE ON EBRD RESOLUTIONS

 

The Council of Ministers failed to reach a consensus on granting its consent for vote of the BIH Governor with the European Banka for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on two EBRD-proposed resolutions, so it will come out on the issue on the second round of vote.

The resolutions refer to a cessation and amendment of approach to EBRD resources for the Russia Federation and Belarus, pursuant to Article 8 of the EBRD Founding Agreement.

 

KM 500k TO RED CROSS OF UKRAINE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH approved KM 300.000 from current reserves of the Budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions and International Obligations of BIH, to be passed to the Red Cross of Ukraine by the Red Cross of BIH, as humanitarian aid.

 

TEMPORARY FINANCING OF BIH INSTITUTIONS CONTINUED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed decision on temporary financing of BIH Institutions and international obligations of BIH for April-June 2022.

Funds approved for financing of BIH Institutions are KM 249,000,000, or ¼ of funds approved for financing of BIH Institutions, in accordance with the Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of BIH for year 2022.

The continuation of multi-annual projects, approved under previous years’ budgets, and of special purpose programmes, will be made possible by funds transferred, under the Law on Financing of BIH Institutions, i.e. special purpose grants and other non-special purpose resources.

The Council of Ministers took note of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled piece of information on the current state of affairs and steps required for an adoption of a Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international obligations of BIH, to be passed to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

The piece of information reviews chronological steps to precede the adoption of the BIH Institutions Budget, staring from adoption of the Global Framework of Fiscal Balance and Policies 2022-2024, which represents the key first step for preparation of budget documents, specifically development of the Framework Budget 2022-2024 and 2022 Draft Budget Law of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH.

 

BIH NAD SERBIA TIGHTEN COOPERATION IN RAILWAY TRANSPORT

 

The session defined a Proposal Platform and appointed a negotiating team for conclusion of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on defining a border-crossing procedure for the railway border-crossing Brasina-Zvornik.

The conclusion of the Agreement is for the purpose of simplifying border crossing procedures and cutting the railway cars waiting time at the railway border-crossing, for the sake of improvement of railway transport services competitiveness.

This would ensure a simple and functional system, featured by shortened time of control of railway border transport at the Brstina-Zvornik border-crossing railway, as the railway cars waiting time represents one of major cost generators of railway companies in both BIH and Serbia.

The Proposal Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport will be the BIH signatory thereof.

 

BIH-SPAIN MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVERS LICENCES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Agreement on mutual recognition and replacement of national car drivers’ licences between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Kingdom of Spain.

The Proposal Agreement defines mutual recognition of valid car drivers’ licences, issued by competent authorities to the holders legally staying in these countries, which is a good news for rather large number of BIH citizens staying in Spain. Also, there is a possibility for replacement of valid car drivers’ licences without taking theoretical and practical exams.

The Proposal Agreement, accompanied by a negotiations report, will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Communications and Transport will be the BIH signatory thereof.

 

READMISSION AGREEMENT WITH LEBANON REPUBLIC

 

The session defined a Proposal Basics for Negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Lebanon Republic on Readmission of Persons Staying without Stay Permits.

Under the Agreement, procedures will be improved for a faster and more effective identification and safe return of persons staying without permit or non-fulfilling conditions for entry, presence or stay in the territory of the two countries, in addition to their transit by way of joint cooperation and reciprocity.

The Proposal Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Security of BIH will be the BIH signatory thereof.

 

AIR TRAFFIC WITH KINGDOM OF BAHREIN

 

The session defined a proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Kingdom of Bahrein on Air Traffic Services.

The Agreement should regulate air traffic, compliant to relevant international standards, to enable air transporters to offer various options of services to travellers.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide the Proposal Agreement with a Negotiations Report to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport will be the BIH signatory thereof.

 

INITIATIVE ADOPTED FOR AGREEMENT WITH EU ON DATA EXCHANGE ON TRAFFIC OFFENCES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Communications and Transport-tabled initiative for conclusion of an Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union, to enable access to data from the European Union vehicle registry, in line with March 11, 2015 EU Directive 2015/413 of the European Parliament and Council of EU, on facilitation of cross-border data exchange on traffic offences against traffic safety on roads.

Adopted was a Proposal Declaration on Intent for conclusion of the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union to enable access to car registry data from the European Union.

The conclusion of the Agreement with the EU creates technical conditions for acting by responsible authorities and for imposing sanctions for non-compliance with relevant traffic safety regulations on roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport will pass the Initiative and Declaration on Intent to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for further legislative procedure.

 

SUPPORT TO BIH PHYTOSANITARY SECTOR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Proposal for Signing of an Operative Agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations od BIH and International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Bari (CIHEAM Bari) for implementation of activities under the “New Activities to Support Phytosanitary Sector in BIH for its harmonisation with EU standards – PHYTO-BIH” Project.

The Government of the Republic of Italy adopted a grant worth EUR 1,198,400 and accorded the funds to the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute in Bari for the project implementation. A proposal for signing of the Operative Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Foreign trade and Economic Relations of BIH will be the BIH signatory.

 

ACTIVITIES LAUNCHED FOR BNH ACCESS TO EU PROGRAMME FOR SINGLE MARKET

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on the European Union Single Market Programme.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is a holder of activities concerning the access and conclusion of an agreement on BIH participation in the Programme and its several pillars, and it should keep the continuous cooperation with the Directorate for European Integrations, as the assistance programme coordinator, up-dating the Council of Ministers thereof regularly.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will make an analysis of activities resumed under the programme and of BIH obligations stemming from it, and will ask from the BIH, Entity and Brčko District level institutions to appoint their respective contact points to provide relevant pieces of information required for the implementation thereof.

The Council of EU and European Parliament took the 2021-2027 Programme of the European Union for Single Market, last April, worth total EUR 4.2 billion. The Programme aims an increase of the single market effectiveness, support to enterprises, particularly SMEs, development of high quality European standards, boosting customers protection, health improvement of people, animals and herbs, including animal wellbeing, as well as setting-up frameworks for funding high quality statistics.

One of six Programme pillars is a continuation of the European Union 2014-2020 SMEs Competitiveness Programme (COSME), to which Bosnia and Herzegovina was a part.

 

CEEDING RECEIVABLES

 

The session granted its consent to a Contract on Ceding Receivables between Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Council of Ministers of BIH, which ceded receivables, on one side, and Republika Srpska – the Government of Republika Srpska, which receives receivables, on the other side, and authorised Chairman Zoran Tegeltija to sign the Contract to which the Government of Republika Srpska gave its consent earlier.

The conclusion was taken after the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information of the BIH Attorney’s Office on Proposal Contract on Ceding Receivables, and the latter will provide the Contract to the Government of Republika Srpska for signing.

It is about EUR 1,102,669,00 received in an arbitration proceeding in file Krajina Osiguranje, Jsc Banja Luka, lost by claimant Naveena Aggarwalla, Neeta Gupta and “Usha Industries” INC,  according to relevant arbitration rules of the United Nations Committee for International Trade Law. The costs of the arbitrage procedure are for the benefit of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they refer to costs of BIH attorney, court deposits and other administrative costs. The costs were borne by Republika Srpska, in accordance with earlier concluded agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Republika Srpska on mutual rights and obligations in arbitration procedures.

 

MLFT IN BIH RISK ASSESSMENT SUPPLEMENET

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on appointment of members and alternate members of a work group and sub-groups for development of a supplement risk assessment from money laundry and financing terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2021-2023, and relevant accompanying action plan.

The work group include representatives from the competent Council of Ministers institutions, of Governments of Republika Srpska, the Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BIH, Ministries at State and Entity levels, police agencies, MONEYVAL Delegation, Prosecutor’s Office of BIH, as well as from banking agencies, insurance and securities agencies.

Members of sub-groups, as well as their alternates, were appointed for assessment of money laundry threat risk and money laundering vulnerability in both banking and securities market sectors, insurance companies and other financial and non-financial sector, as well for financing terrorism risk assessment.

 

TO ACCELERATE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DRAFT LAW ON SPNiFT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an activity report of a Work Group for Drafting a Law on Money Laundry and Financing Terrorism Prevention (MLFTP), with some corrections made at the session, as the work group failed to reach a full agreement of the text Draft Law.

For the sake of acceleration of the Law adoption, the Ministry of Security is responsible to propose and submit to the Council of Ministers a new work group composition, to be comprised from representatives of responsible State, Entity and Brčko District level institutions. An obligation to develop a new law on prevention of money laundering and financing terrorism, harmonised with relevant EU Directives and with FATF and MONEYVAL standards and recommendations, falls within one of mandatory assignments in the process of BIH accession to the European Union.

 

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN – ENTERPRENEURS SUPPORT PROJECT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH gave its consent, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, to a MI-BOSPO Microcredit Fund from Tuzla for submitting a loan application to the Development Bank of the Council of Europe for partial financing of eligible sub-projects throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with Articles II and VII of Articles of Agreement of the Council of Europe Development Bank.

It is about the CEB EUR four million loan to be allocated to the Microcredit Fund MI-BOSPO Tuzla for a partial funding of eligible sub-projects in BIH directed to women entrepreneurs, which contribute to economic empowerment of women.

The financing will cover productive investments by women entrepreneurs, needs for working capital, betterment of housing conditions, for the aim of improvement of households’ wellbeing.

The MI-BODPO Tuzla Microcredit Fund, as borrower, bears a full loan repayment risk, including risk of financing in targeted sectors and ensuring all required covers for lender, in addition to a guarantee needed for the loan approval.

An obligation of granting consent to CEB investments implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina stems from the CEB Statute, and is not connected to BIH indebtedness nor a state guarantee issuance.

 

PROPOSAL DECISIONS DEFINED ON AGREEMENTS RATIFICATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, several proposal decisions on ratification of five agreements, to be passed to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.

It is about the ratification of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Australia on employment of diplomatic and consular staff family members; Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on employment of household members of diplomatic-consular missions; Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on Border Area Traffic; Agreement on Protection of Classified Data between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Hungary, as well as an Agreement between Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on construction of inter-state bridge over the Tara River on connection of a freeway M-18 at Hum site (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and a freeway M3 at Šćepan Polje site (Montenegro) and connecting border roads.

 

320k FROM MINISTRY OF JUSTICE BUDGET FOR “STATE PRISON”

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Justice- proposed decision on reallocation of a part of 2022 budget funds from the Ministry of Justice to the budget of Institute for Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and other Measures of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a total amount of KM 320,000.00.

The Reallocation of budget funds enables the Institute for Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and Other Measures of BIH to meet its respective obligations.

 

CONSENT FOR VOTE BY CITIZENS FO SERBIA IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for arranging a pooling by citizens of the Republic of Serbia, staying in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Serbian parliamentarian and presidential elections, on April 3, 2022 in time between 7.00 and 20.00.

The vote by Serbian citizens will be enabled at 15 sites in BIH, namely, in the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Sarajevo, General Consular Offices of Serbia in Banja Luka and Mostar, Consular Offices in Trebinje and Drvar, “Ivo Andrić” Secondary School in Višegrad, Centre for Culture and Education in Doboj, Secondary School in Bratunac, “Desanka Maksimović” Primary School in Prijedor, Mtel Building in Banja Luka, Secondary School in Rudo, “St. Sava” Primary School in Lopare and “St. Sava” Primary School in Zvornik, and “Vuk Karadžić” Primary School in Branjevo, Pilica.”

 

CONSENT FOR VOTE BY CITIZENS OF SLOVENIA IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted tis consent for arranging a pooling by citizens of the Republic of Slovenia staying in BIH at elections for the Parliament of Slovenia.

The pooling will be organised on April 24, 2022 in the premises of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in time from 9.00 to 17.00. (end)