Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 59th Session

CULTURE PROJECTS CO-FINANCING 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, in a new text, on criteria for distribution of current grant funds “Co-Financing of Culture Projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina” for 2024-2026, worth total KM 3,097,000 at annual level.

The funds we provided from the Law on Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH item “Current Transfers and Grants” for 2024, while funds for both 2025 and 2026 will be secured pursuant to laws on budget of institutions of BIH and international obligations of BIH for each year severally.

The funds are classified for co-financing for projects in area of culture by way of public competition, in accordance with criteria defined by the decision. A minimum amount of funds to be allocated from this grant is KM 5,000, and maximal amount is KM 200,000.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will publish an ad at its web site and in three daily papers circulating throughout BIH.

KM 2 MILLION FOR IMPLEMENTATIN OF DAYTON AGREMENT ANNEX VII

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on transfer of funds from the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees budget in amount of KM 2 million to the Find for Return of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These grant funds are intended for realisation of Revised Strategy for Dayton Agreement Annex VII Implementation, and their earmarking was planned under an Agreement on Joining and Realization of Funds for Execution of Rights from the Dayton Agreement Annex II, concluded by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH, Federal Ministry for Displaced  Persons and Refugees, Republic Secretariat for Displaced Persons and Migrations of Republika Srpska, Government of the Brčko District of BIH, and Fund for Return of BIH.

According to the Agreement, the Entity institutions will reserve KM 50,000 for these purposes, and the Brčko District of BIH will receive KM 25,000.

DIALOGUE WITH EU CONTINUES

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Directorate for European Integrations on holding of the seventh meeting of the Board for Stabilisation and Accession between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on September 19, 2024 in Brussels.

Bosnia and Herzegovina delegation, comprised of representatives of competent State, Entity, Cantonal and Brčko District institutions, will be led by Director of the Directorate for European Integrations Elvira Habota, who will be available to journalist inquiries concerning the meeting.

Delegations of BIH and the European Union will discuss the status of European integrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the light of fulfilment of key priorities within political and economic criteria, implementation of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, and financial support by the European Union.

ADDENDUM TO BIH ISNTITUTIONS IN-PUT WILL BE PROVIDED OT EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Directorate for European Integrations-tabled document Addendum to In-Put by the Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Regular Annual Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina for March 16 - July 31, 2024, to be provided to the European Commission.

It holds a review of measures realised in the European integrations process, in addition to review of betterment of the system functioning, in general, for the reported period of time, together with appropriate information from all-level authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

DEVELOPEMNT OF NEW LAW ON BORDER CONTROL

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a piece of information in activities of a Work Gorup for Development of a Law on Border Control and expressed its concern for failure to submit an agreed-to Law on Border Police.

In that regard, the Work Group should take all needed activities, by Oct 13, 2024, at latest, on overcoming diverging positions, for the aim of a final agreement on text Law on Border Control.

PIECE OF INFORAMTION ON SUSPENSION OF WORK BY EX-OFFICIO DEFENCE ATTORNEYS

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Ministry of Justice on suspension of work of ex-office defence attorneys before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with a request by Bar Associations of the Federation of BIH and Bar Association of Republika Srpska for amendments and supplements to a Decision on cost compensation of criminal procedure, according to the Law on Criminal Procedure of BIH.

The BIH Chief Attorney’s Office should initiate court proceeding challenging the decision by the Bar Associations of the Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska to stop working before the Court of BIH, and fill proposals for temporary measures with a security measure to enable a smooth judiciary operation in urgent procedures.

The Ministry of Justice of BIH should cooperate with the Chief Attorney’s Office to prepare materials for eventual court proceeding and regular informing of the Council of Ministers thereof.

The piece of information indicates that the Ministry of Justice finds the requests by Bar Associations for a full debt settlement and for increase of fees to ex-officio defence attorneys justifiable, and it has started a procedure of sending Proposal Amendment Decision on Reimbursements, according to the Law on Criminal Procedure in BH, in accordance with assessed increase of financial resources.

The Ministry of Justice says that although it understands the reasons, no legal procedure has been started for suspension of work of defence attorneys, because no agreement was concluded on procedures that will not be suspended for the time of proceeding, in order to avoid detrimental consequences to indicted/accused, as well as to public order, security and legal order: The Ministry points at the fact that indicted/accused ones who should get ex-officio attorneys, might be, for the process reasons, released from prison due to suspension of work by Bar Associations, which may threaten public order and security. Also, by missing deadlines for submission of solutions, inditements and other decisions, the affected persons might suffer detrimental consequences, which may serve as a ground for future suing Bosnia and Herzegovina.

PROPOSED RATIFICATION OF AGREMETN ON JINING EU4HEALTH PROGRAMME

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Decision on ratification of an Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on joining Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU4Health Programme, to be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.

The Agreement on joining of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU4Health Programme was signed by Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dubravka Bošnjak and European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, in Brussels on July 32, 2024. By signing the Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina is enabled access to financial resources of EIR 5.3 billion, approved by the EU to Programe affiliates for 2021–2027-time span.

The European Union established the Programme in 2021 under a Decree (Eu)2021/522, and it came as a response to Covid-19 disease and for strengthening of preparedness to crisis in the European Union. The aim is to make health systems of the Programme affiliates stronger, more resistible and accessible, so that they might face more successfully long-term health challenges.

The Programme affiliates, including BIH, have available more that EUR 752 million. Entities from public and private sectors may apply for funds.

STANDING EXHIBITION AS MEMORY TO VICIMS IN AUSCHWITZ-BIREKNAU CONCENTRATION CAMPS

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Decision on Ratification of an Agreement on financing of Re-Establishermnt of Joint Standing Exhibition in Block 17 of State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau and will provide it to the BIH Presidency to further procedure.

The Agreement, signed on January 25, 2024 in UNESCO Seat in Paris and on January 22, 2024 in Skoplje, in English language, covers Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia, and Republic of Slovenia, who confirmed their readiness to re-establish the joint exhibition as a site of memory to victims from territories of ex-Yugoslavia in concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

These states agreed to cover expenses of renovation and conservation of joint space, structures and segments of the Block 17, in amount of EUR 1 million, financed by the Republic of Austria through grants to Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, and to finance jointly setting-up joint exhibition, not covered by Herman Family Trust grants. The financing was agreed under a model: Bosnia and Herzegovina 15.50%; Republic of Croatia 23.00%; Montenegro 2.23%; Republic of North Macedonia 7.50%: Republic of Serbia 35.77%; and Republic of Slovenia 16.00%. 

PERSONELL ISSUES

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Renata Kapetanović, Sanja Pavlović, and Aids Jahić for members of the Appellation Committee for four-year term, after implemented job vacancy procedure and upon recommendation of the Committee for Selection and Appointment of the Appellation Committee under the Council of Ministers of BIH. (end)

Ling to photo:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720320021061/