Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 4th Session
03/02/2023
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Finance Contract among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the European Investment Bank (Banja Luka Medical Complex Project) (Fi No 91.071), worth EUR 75 million.
The Project aims extension and improvement of the Medical Complex infrastructure, located at Paprikovac in Banja Luka, which consists of the University Hospital of Republika Srpska, Medical and Health Care Faculty of the University in Banja Luka, and Education and Research Centre. A part of the Project is a Medical Campus for education and training, and it includes construction and furbishing of a new building to accommodate 1.400 students.
The Project supports the first phase of a long-term complex infrastructure development plan for provision of a high quality health care and medical education for the needs of citizens.
The loan term is 25 years with six year grace period, and allocation to Republic of Srpska.
The Project total value is estimated at EUR 105.783 million, of which the EIB loan is EUR 75 million, and domestic contribution and other sources of financing are EUR 30,783.
The Project should be implemented by the end January 2029.
The Proposal Contact with platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency, with a proposal for the Minister of Finance and Treasury as the BIH signatory thereof.
SUPPORT TO BIH AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed unanimously an initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and designated a negotiating team for conclusion of a Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Air Quality Improvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina Project, worth USD 50 million.
The Project aim is a reduction of air pollution emissions of greenhouse gases in sectors of district heating and traffic, by way of improved management of air quality and investments in four cantons in the Federation of BIH, namely, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zeničko-Dobojski and Hercegovačko-Neretvanski Cantons, based on their expressed will to be a part of the project.
This important project strengthens monitoring and management of air quality and supports improvement of heating and energy efficacy in individual residential buildings in a sustainable fashion in all four Cantons.
Also, one of the project components, referring to a green urban mobility for support to traffic sector transition towards low emissions, will be implemented in the Sarajevo Canton, as the major urban area in BIH.
With consultations with Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska authorities, the Project will focus at first to the Federation of BIH.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide a Draft Loan Agreement with Platform for its conclusion to the Council of Ministers of BIH.
INTENSIFIED COOPERATION AND COORIDNATION IN ADRIATIC-IONIAN REGION
The Council of Ministers defined unanimously a Proposal Memorandum on Cooperation on Establishment of Permanent Transnational Network for Navigation Safety, along with the Ministry of Communications and Transport piece of information on a process of the Proposal drafting.
The Memorandum was previously agreed-to and proposed by all participants in the EUREKA Project within cooperation of Adriatic-Ionian region countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Italy, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, and Slovenia), with the main purpose of increased maritime safety in the region.
The general aim of the project is an increase of maritime safety in the Adriatic-Ionian region, by introducing a systemic cooperation and coordination of maritime administrations of the countries of the region.
The leading partner is the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia, while other partners are the maritime administrations responsible for navigation safety in the Adriatic-Ionian territory, with participation of two maritime faculties (Rijeka - Croatia and Kotor - Montenegro), and associate partner , Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH.
A Proposal for conclusion of the Memorandum will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport of BIH was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS: SIXTH MEEETING FO SUB-COMMITTEE FOR TRADE, INDUSTRY, CUSTOMS, AND TAXATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Directorate for European Integrations on holding of the sixth meeting of the Sub-Committee for Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to take place on March 30, 2023 via on-line platform.
The piece of information contains a Discussion Document and list of BIH Delegates to take part at the meeting, which will discuss implementation of trade aspects of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, including free movement of goods, industry policy, SMEs, taxation and customs.
The Directorate for European Integrations will, in cooperation with responsible institutions of BIH and the competent European Commission services, implement all necessary actions for holding of the meeting.
Chair of the BIH Delegation Brankica Pandurević of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will be available to media for inquiries as to the sixth meeting of the Sub-Committee for Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation between the EU and BIH.
MEMBERS OF MEMORIAL CENTRE SREBRENICA-POTOČARI APPOINTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed unanimously a decision to appoint the Memorial Centre Srebrenica-Potočari – Memorial Site and 1995 Genocide Victims Graveyard Steering Board members, with certain corrections made at the session.
The Steering Board appointed members are: Saliha Đuderija and Samir Karić, on behalf of the Council of Ministers of BIH; Aida Baručija, on behalf of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH Joint Committee for Human Rights; Mujo Hadžiomerović, on behalf of the BIH Institute for Missing Persons; Hamdija Fejzić, on behalf of the Memorial Centre Steering Board in previous term; and Mirsad Bajrović, on behalf of the Government of the Federation of BIH; while Republika Srpska representative will be appointed later-on.
The appointments were made after terms of the Steering Board members expired, and previous Council of Ministers of BIH failed to reach consensus on the decision.
EDUCATION QUALITY AND DEVELOPMENT IS PRIORITY IN EDUCATION POLCIES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on Bosnia and Herzegovina education statistic indicators for year 2022, for the aim of improvement of statistics reporting in a situation when quality and development of education in BIH become priorities of all-level education policies.
According to the report, total 427 pre-school education institutions accommodated 33,200 children, which is19% more children and 12.3% more employees in 2021/2022 relevant to the previous time period. Out of total number of pre-school children, 63% were enrolled to public institutions and 37% to private ones. The child coverage by pre-school education in BIH was 19.4% over the reported period of time, which is considerably lower than the European average. Therefore, appropriate approach and increase of pre-school education coverage is the most important priority when in question this level of education.
As to primary education, at the beginning of 2021/2022 academic year, 1,702 regular primary schools were active (basic and independent together with community schools) and 46 schools for disabled children. Also, enrolled were 263,802 pupils, less for 3,257 pupils relative to the year ago. The education process involved 24,601 lecturers, 73.8% of which females.
Total 313 secondary schools had 108,257 enrolled pupils in 2021/2022 academic year in BIH, which is less for 2,147 pupils or 1.9% compared to the previous academic year. The major part of pupils attended technical schools - 56.8%, gymnasiums enrolled 21% pupils, while professional schools were attended by 18.8% pupils. Total 12.840 teachers were included in the education process.
The first cycle of high education, including a short cycle and integrated studies got 76,028 enrolled students in the winter term of 2021/2022 academic year, of which 65,561 students were enrolled to all study years, and 10,467 students were at final years of studies. In year 2021, 12,324 students graduated, which is 7.3% less than in 2020 academic year. Statistics suggest that over the last five-year period of time, number of students dropped for 18,799. In the academic 2021/202 year, total 9.782 lecturers and associates were employed with high education institutions.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will continue providing statistics, in cooperation with all relevant institutions.
BIH IN ERASMUS + PROGRAMME
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Civil Affairs piece of information on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Erasmus + Programme, in a part relating to education and youth for year 2022.
The European Union Erasmus + Programme for education, training, youth and sports covers the 2021-2027 time span, and its aim is development of the European education space and relevant strategic cooperation implementation, especially promotion of mobility for the purpose of learning, cooperation and innovations, as well as development sports organisation and policies.
The Programme implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reflected mostly in participation in education and information-sharing networks of the European Union, digital platforms and international cooperation projects within the Erasmus + Programme.
According to the Erasmus + Office for Bosnia and Herzegovina, BIH institutions take part in 12 projects in high education capacity development area, total worth EUR 7,622,557.00, provided that amounts of financial support to BIH participants will be known following the signing of separate contracts.
Simultaneously, in the last call for the Erasmus + Programme, BIH institutions got a right, in their partner capacity, to participate in 11 projects within capacity development in professional education and training area, totally worth EUR 3,757,771.00, while EUR 687,754.00 were secured for institutions from BIH.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina should provide necessary conditions for continuous participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a full implementation of the Erasmus + Programme, in cooperation with competent education authorities, education agencies and other key stake holders.
PROJECTION: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DECEASED INFLATION THIS YEAR TOO
The Directorate for Economic Planning piece of information on 2023-2025 prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted at today’s session, presumes an economic growth of about 2.5% annually.
The presumed key element of the economic growth should be the domestic demand through an increase of domestic spending and investments.
A slower inflation increase might be expected in 2023, compared with the previous year.(6.7%).
Prospects for 2023-2025 provide a preliminary review of predictions of the most important economic trends in BIH, prepared based on an analysis of economic trends in BIH, taking regard of economic factors affecting the economic growth of our country.
The session adopted a piece of information by the Directorate for Economic Planning on macroeconomic trends for January-October 2022, which shows the continuation of economic activity growth trend in BH.
According to the piece of information, despite challenges, such as the crisis in Ukraine and increased inflatory pressures in the EU 27 counties in January-September 2022, a relative strong economic growth of about 4% relative to the same time period year was noted, due to primarily an increase of final spending. With the growth of final spending of 3.1% in the first half year 2022 and employment increase for about 2%, a double digit growth of cash inflow from abroad was marked, along with inhabitant loan growth for about 5%, which enabled a subsequent growth of private spending in BIH.
Economic trends in the first half of 2022, in BIH, as well as globally, were marked by increased inflatory pressures. So, the growth of global prices in the first half last year, according to IMF data, was almost 50%, where major increases were in energy sector (crude oil 66.5%, natural gas 213%) and food 20.5%. These global price trends resulted in a sudden increase of goods and services in BIH in January-October last year, when consumer prices growth index was marked at 13.7% relative to the same time period last year.
NEW REGUALTION ON HERBAL, FRUIT AND INSTANT TEA ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Food Safety Agency-proposed Regulation on Tea, Fruit Tea, Herbal Tea and Instant Tea, providing for minimum quality and other requirements for tea production and marketing.
The Regulation should enable the use of internationally recognised analyses for testing tea quality for the aim of consumer health protection, and removal of inefficiencies noted in the implementation of the previous regulation, which caused problems to producers at both domestic and foreign markets.
The Regulation provisions are not applicable to marketed herbal raw marketed, dietetic teas and traditional herbal medicines (medicine tea).
The Regulation takes effect on the eighth day from the date of publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”, when the 2021 Regulation ceases to be in effect.
CONSENT FOR APPOINTMENT OF DEFENCE ATTACHÉ OF SLVOENIA IN BIH
Upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a consent was granted for an appointment of Colonel Tadej Burgar to the post of Defence Attaché of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, seated in Sarajevo.
VOTE BY CITIZENS OF BULGARIA
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for pooling by citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina at extraordinary parliamentarian of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The vote will be held on April 2, 2023 in premises of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Sarajevo, from 7.00 to 20.00 hrs. (end)