Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds its 49th Session
03/30/2022
Today’s session defined a Proposal Platform for negotiations on the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Government of the Republic of Serbia Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation on implementation of an infrastructure project “Construction of Trebinje Airport”.
The proposed platform establishes basic directions of future cooperation on implementation of the Trebinje Airport Construction Project, with regard to good international practice and satisfaction of both states.
Simultaneously, this sets-up grounds for acting of the two countries towards the third interested parties and available financial sources of this important investment undertaking, to enable increased flow of people, capital, services, and consequently improved economic development.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport and Legislation Office of the Council of Ministers of BIH will refine the Platform before sending it to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure. The Minister of Communications and Transport was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
BIH AND CROATIA TOGETHER IN BRČKO-GUNJA BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Platform and appointed a negotiating team for conclusion of an Agreement with the Government of the Republic of Croatia on reconstruction of a bridge connecting Brčko (BIH) and Gunja (Croatia), on M-14.1.(BIH/DC214 (RC).
The costs of reconstruction of the bridge connecting BIH and Croatia will be borne in equal shares of 50% each party; specifically, BIH will provide about KM 5 million, as the total cost of the reconstruction were estimated at KM 10 million. The Brčko District of BIH approved KM 1.6 million for development of the project documentation.
The implementation of the project will enable a smooth and continuous transport of passengers and goods across the bridge.
BIH will secure finances under a Decision on distribution of funds collected from permits for use of radiofrequency spectrum for mobile access systems, regulating that 70% of these will be earmarked for BIH traffic improvement purposes.
The Proposal Platformwi8ll be provided to the BIH Presidency with a proposal for the BIH Minister of Communications and Transport as the BIH signatory.
TO BOOST BIH – MONTENEGRO COOPERATION ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IMPLEMETNATION
Upon a proposal by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, a Proposal Platform for conclusions of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro was defend for realisation of infrastructure projects.
The aim is to create legal framework for joint action by the two states towards the third interested parties and available financial sources for funding infrastructure investments. Future project would enable increased flow of people, goods, capital, services and technologies, and further accelerated economic development of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
The two states, though their respective representatives in the Coordination Team, to be set-up upon signing of the Memorandum, will list infrastructure projects to be reviewed periodically as to needs and requirements by citizens and economic actors.
The Proposal Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister of Communications and Transport will be the BIH signatory thereof.
BIH IN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME INTERREG VI-B EURO-MED2021-2027
The Council of Ministers of BIH authorised the Director of the Directorate for European integrations to sign a letter of consent for a Territorial Cooperation Programme Interreg VI-B Europe-Med 2021-2027, upon it adopted a note on the Programme.
The territorial cooperation programme Interreg VI –B Euro Med 2021-2027 is a follow-up of an Interreg Transnational Programme Mediterranean 2014-2020 (MED), in which Bosnia and Herzegovina had a part earlier.
It is a cooperation programme of the European Union member countries in the area of Mediterranean, but open to the EU candidate and potential candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia). The EU member countries use resources from the European Fund and Regional Development (ERDF), while candidates and potential candidates use resource from the IPA III.
TREBINJE FREE ZONE
The Council of Ministers took a decision to define a part of customs area of Bosnia and Herzegovina as “Trebinje Free Zone”, as proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations after receiving a request from the city of Trebinje, accompanied by documentation, including an elaboration on economic justification.
The decision sets a part of BIH customs area as “Trebinje Free Zone”, as defined by a “New Trebinje” zoning plan of total surface of 118,635 m2.
A further procedure of establishing a free zone includes obtaining opinion by relevant authorities, including that of the Indirect Taxation Administration.
APPLICATION OF SALARY BASE AMOUNT IN BIH INSITTUTIONS AFTER BUDGET ADOPTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed decision on a level of base salary amount of employees in BIH Institutions in year 2022.
The salary basic amount will amount KM 535, as in year 2009, and will be applied staring a month after the date of 2022 Budget adoption.
BIH CUSTOMS POLICY LAW IMPLEMENTATION DECISION TO BE APPLIED FROM AUGIST 1, 2022
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Indirect Taxation Administration-proposed initiative on amendment of the Customs Policy Law Implementation Decision, which moved a deadline for start of its application from April 1 to August 1, 2022.
The new prolonging of the Decision application comes as a result of the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly failure to adopt the BIH Law on Customs Violations, which was a prerequisite for new customs regulations to take effect and secure simultaneous application of this and the Law of BIH Customs Policy.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defied a Proposal Law on Customs Policy in BIH last June, and passed it to the Parliamentarian Assembly for adoption under urgent procedure.
GREEN LIGHT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF DRAFT LAW ON MLFT PREVENTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to form a Work Group for development of a Draft Law on Prevention of Money Laundry and Financing Terrorism, which should finalise the Draft Law within three months from the present decision taking.
The new Law should be harmonised with MLFT-related directives and regulations of the European Union, and further harmonised with standards and recommendations of the Financial Measures Task Force, FATF, in addition to MONEYVAL recommendations from the laest evaluation cycle.
The Work Group includes representatives of responsible State, Entity and Brčko District Ministries and institutions, and from competent Republika Srpska and Federation of BIH banking agencies, in addition to the State Investigation and Protection Agency and Directorate for European Integrations.
COMMITTEE SET UP FOR BIH WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision to appoint members of a Committee for witness protection programme implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Committee, which includes representatives of the BIH Court, BIH Prosecutor’s Office and State Investigations and Protection Agency (SIPA), has responsibilities and assignments defined under the Law on Witness Protection Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DECISION ON TEMPORARY BAN OF EXPORT OF CERTAIN FOREST WOOOD SORTIMENTS
The Council of Ministers failed to reflect on a Proposal Decision on temporary ban of export of certain forest wood assortments, withdrawn by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on the eve of the session agenda adoption, because of required obtaining of certain opinions.
NO CONSENT ON VOTE ON EBRD RESOLUTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to agree, in the second round of voting, to support resolutions referring to cessation and amendment of approach to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development resources for the Russian Federation and Belarus, in accordance with the Article 8.3 of the EBRD Founding Act. (end)