Sjednice
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 60th Session
09/16/2024
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Hrzegovinsa expresses its deep solidarity with people affected by floods in European countries. It follows carefully the developments, and is ready to extend, pursuant to its capabilities, support to the affected areas.
The Council of Ministers extends its deepest condolences to families of victims and sympathies to all citizens that suffered a loss, hopeful that the affected would recover as soon as possible and return to normal life.
Bosnia and Herzegovina remains dedicated to cooperation in aid and reconstruction efforts in the spirit of togetherness and solidarity.
AMENDED DECISION ON FEE FOR USE OF RADIOFREQUENCY SPECTRUM IN BIH
The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed Decision on Amendments and Supplements to Decision on Fee for Use of Radiofrequency Spectrum in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Under the Decision, an exemption from the fee payment obligation will be for certain users for needs of scientific-research institutions and for radiofrequency spectrum users as approved by the Communications Regulatory Agency for an eight-day time-period. It also annuls a provision allowing the Council of Ministers of BIH to grant special exemptions, upon the CRA proposal.
For the aim of promotion of services based on satellite or hybrid systems, using partially a satellite structure, an annual fee for 1MHz allocated radiofrequency spectrum in satellite service is decreased for 40%, which was estimated to lead to a revenue fall by KM 144,000.00 annually.
The Decision on amendments and supplements to Decision on fee for use of radiofrequency spectrum in Bosnia and Herzegovina takes effects on the day of its adoption and will be in application from July 1, 2024.
DECISION ON MINISTRY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES-ALLOCATED GRANTS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on use of grants from the Ministry for Huaman Rights and Refugees budget for 2024-2026.
The grants that the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees is obliged to implement in a fiscal year are listed in the Law on Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH and are planned under the Framework Budget of BIH Institutions and activities within a Mid-Term Work Programme of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Ministries Severally.
Budget funds in amount of KM 4,256,000.00 were approved for grants and current transfers from the Ministry for Huan Rights and Refugees in 2024, while amounts for 2025 and 2026 will be defined by the Law on Budget for each year separately.
By grants allocation, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees intends to improve inclusion and integration of Roma national minority, support NGOs concerned with promotion and protection of rights of vulnerable categories of citizens and strengthen capacities of local self- governance and associations for the aim of implementation of activities planned under a Policy of Cooperation with Emigration.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION AND CUT-OFF OF CUSTOMS RATES IN 2025
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on temporary suspension and decrease of customs rates for import of certain goods by Dec 31, 2025.
The decision covers 69 tariff marks, 61 of them are included in previous year’s a decision, and 8 are new ones. These are tariff marks from textile, lather, footwear, furniture, chemical, metal, food, graphic and electro industries. The Decision takes effect on the day of its adoption and is published in the “Official Gazette of BIH”; it will be applied from January 2025.
In accordance with the Law on Customs Tariffs, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopts such temporary measure annually for the purpose of support to domestic economy and its more competitive and more favourable business climate, including maintenance of jobs and new employment.
Goods covered by the Decision are materials and raw materials used by BIH producers in their own operations for production of final products intended for export or as a substitution of imported products which cannot be procured domestically in sufficient quantities or quality.
REPEAT OF TARIFF QUOTA FOR SUGAR
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on repeat of tariff quotas quantities of 50,000 tonnes in 2024, which refer to import of raw sugar from sugar cane for refinement, for the aim of protection of BIH food production industry.
Aside from strengthening of sole sugar factory in BIH, located in the Brčko District of BIH, it protects domestic companies using sugar as base raw material.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the decision upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, in accordance tithe the Law on Custom Tariff in BIH.
CoMBIH-UNFPA AGREEMENT RATIFICATION PROPOSED
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-tabled Proposal Decision on ratification of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and will send it to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.
The Agreement implies continued application of Dec 7, 1995 Agreement between Bosnia and Hzregovina and UN Development Programme, and needed amendments refer to UNFPA staff and its activities in BIH concerning their status.
The UN Population Fund, as an independent unit – agency within UN system, cooperates actively with the Council of Ministers of BIH, in accordance with its mandate, which includes human rights promotion, empowering marginalised groups, focusing to women, adolescents and youth, especially girls, and improvement of sexual and reproduction health and the related rights.
RATIFICATION OF FINACE AGREMEENT UNDER EU-BIH-FRANCE COOPERATION PROGRAMME
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Decision on Ratification of Finance Agreement for 2021-2027 Cooperation Programme “(Interreg VI-C) URBACT IV” among the European Union, represented by the European Commission, Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers of BIH Directorate for European Integrations, and Republic of France, represented by the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT).
The Cooperation Programme is directed to an integrated development in cities through networking, exchange of experience and good practice, for the purpose of improvement of policies and strengthening of cohesion policy within urban areas.
The total value of the Programme is EUR 108,063,537, of which the EU financial contribution will be EUR 84,769,799, and the remaining part will be covered by participating countries. The Agreement implementation will take place by signing of separate financial agreements.
It covers 27 EU member-countries, Switzerland and Norway, and IPA beneficiary countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
The Directorate for European Integrations of BIH will coordinate the Programme implementation.
The proposal decision on ratification of the Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.
DEFENCE COOPERATION BETWEEN BIH AND ROMANIA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-tabled Proposal Decision on ratification of an Agreement between Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of National Defence of Romania on Defence Cooperation.
The Agreement was signed in Bucharest on June 18, 2024 by BIH Defence Minister Zukan Elez and Minister of National Defence or Romania Angel Tilvar.
BIH INSTITUTIONS BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT I-VI 2024 ADOPTED
The session adopted Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions and International Obligations of BIH Budget Execution I-VI 2024 Report, to be passed to BIH Parliamentarian Assembly and Prsidency and published at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Council of Ministers web sites.
The total realised revenues, financing and receivables at disposal to BIH Institutions in the first half of 2024 were KM 740,845,629 or 115 per cent relative to the planned budget for 2024. Out of the amount, KM 500,322,942 was withdrawn from the Indirect Taxation Single Treasury Account.
The total realised expenditures and costs from the BIH Institutions Budget for I-VI 2024 were KM 563,149,679 and are higher for KM 32.8 million or 6% relative to the same time year before.
In the first two quarters of 2024, financing of BIH Institutions was made based on an Instruction on Temporary Financing of BIH Institutions, since the Law on 2024 Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH was adopted on July 19, 2024.
All obligations due based on foreign state debt in time span between Jan. 1 to June 30, 2024, were serviced timely in total amount of KM 679,992,260.55.
BUDGET RESERVE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled piece of information on distribution and use of current reserve funds for Jan.-June 2024, to be sent to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly.
According to the piece of information, out of total planned KM 4,594,500.00 of current reserve funds, approved was KM 30,000.00 and realised was KM 12,699.06 over the reported time.
PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION REPORT ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed 2023 Annual Report on Implementation of Public Finance Management Strategy and 2024 Annual Action Plan.
A progress was indicated in realisation of the Public Finance Management Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions in 2023. As to an implementation results column (Fiscal Framework, Indirect Tax Revenues, Budget Planning and Drafting, Budget Execution, Internal Control, External Audit), a share of achieved against unachieved values is satisfactory.
Targeted values were fully realised for seven result indicators column, and partially realised for 10 results indicator columns. Three targeted values were not implemented, while deadlines for nine result indicators have not expired, having regard of these being mostly multi-annual activities.
A few activities planned for 2023 were not started on time, so deadlines for their implementation were extended in the 2024 Action Plan.
The Report emphasised a considerable technical support by partners of BIH institutions, primarily the European Union, and according to activity holders, the technical support will be a considerable factor for successful implementation in time ahead.
The 27th session of the Council of Ministers of BIH of Feb. 18, 2022 adopted a comprehensive 2021-2025 Public Finance Management Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which contributed largely to intensification of activities planned under this strategic document.
MEETING OF SUB-COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORT, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Directorate for European Integrations-tabled piece of information on the seventh meeting of the sub-Committee for Transport, Energy, Environment, and Regional Development between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, held on March 21, 2024.
The meeting considered issues concerning implementation of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, legislation harmonisation, setting-up strategic framework and strengthening of institutional capacities in the areas of transport, energy, environment and regional development.
The piece of information holds recommendations extended by the European Commission after the meeting, which Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions are obliged to fulfil.
CITIZENS’ POSITIONS ON EU INTEGRATIONS PROCESS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the BIH Directorate for European Integrations on results of public opinion pool “Citizens’ Positions as to Membership in the European Union and EU Integrations Process”, conducted in June 2024.
According to the pool results, in case of a referendum for membership in the EU, 71.2% respondents in BIH would vote for joining the EU, which is 2.1% less relevant to the previous year. The joining the EU would be supported by 83.8% respondents from the Federation of BIH, 48.3% from Republika Srpska, and 75% from the Brčko District of BIH. Total 7.5% respondents would not vote at the referendum, which is 2% less, relevant to the previous year, and a share of undecided respondents who do not know or do not want to answer whether they do or don’t support BIH entry to the EU is 1.6%, and it is lower for 0.4% relative to 2023 pool.
Citizens in favour for entering of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU note most often as reasons free movement of people, goods and capital (53.1%), guarantee of permanent peace and political stability (32.2%), adherence to law and regulations (19.9%), and infrastructure improvement (9.5%).
On the contrary, respondents not supporting entering of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU, note most frequently higher living costs and taxes (43.7%), to high centralisation (13.7%), population emigration (12.8%), and loss of cultural diversity (12.5%), while too high bureaucracy is reason for 7.5% respondents.
DEVELOPMENT OF BIH JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on development of a Draft Strategy (Strategic Framework) for Bosnia and Herzegovina Justice Sector Reform and Work Group Action Plan, in accordance with conclusions from the 6th session of the Council of Ministers, drafted by the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice should run both consultations and development and refinement of the 2024-2028 BIH Justice Sector Reform text Strategic Framework, for the reason of consideration and adoption of the document in the same wording, as per an agreement from May 2024 by the Ministers of Justice of BIH, Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska, President of the High Court and Prosecutorial Council and President of the Judicial Committee of the Brčko District of BIH, firstly at the Entity and Brčko District level, and afterwards at the Council of Ministers of BIH.
The Minister of Justice of BIH should send the Proposal 2024-2028 Justice Sector Reform Strategic Framework, together with relevant adoption documents at the Federation of BIH, Republika Srpska and Brčko District level, to the Council of Ministers of BIH for adoption.
The Minister of Justice should also attach to the Strategic Framework conclusions referring to development of an Action Plan and cost estimates, Strategic Framework-planned functional bodies for steering, monitoring, reporting and evaluation, and coordination thereof with similar bodies in the European integrations process.
S. ČAMDŽIĆ IN PRE-SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION AGENCY BOARD
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on public job vacancy procedure for selection and appointment of three members of the Agency for Pre-School, Elementary and Secondary Education Board, based on which it appointed Samra Čamdžić, from Bosniak people, for the Board member to a three-year term.
Also, a Decision was taken on release from duty of the Board member Muharem Saračević, whose term expired.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs should launch a procedure for selection of two Agency Board members, from Bosniak and Croat people, in accordance with the Law on Ministerial Appointments, Appointments by Council of Ministers and Other Appointments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Law on Pre-School, Elementary and Secondary Education.
TO CONTINUE IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED STATE STRATEGY FOR WORK ON WAR CRIME FILES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice-proposed report on work of Steering Boady for monitoring of implementation of the Revised State Strategy for Work on War Crime Files for Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2023.
In that regard, the relevance of support by the European Union was noted in both strengthening of human and material resources of judicial institutions competent for war crime files processing and EU decision to approve funds for continuation of activities under the project “Improvement of Work on War Crime Files in BIH”, within the state aid package IPA 2022, which will secure continuity of effective processing of war crime files.
The Council of Ministers of BIH urges courts and prosecutorial offices in BIH to take additional efforts towards realisation of a Strategic Aim I of the Revised State Strategy “To process the most complex and most prioritised war crime files before the BIH Court and BIH Prosecutorial Office and other files before judicial bodies of the Entities and Brčko District of BIH by the end of 2025”, and consequently take all needed measures to secure human capacities and material resources within the project “Improvement of work on war crime files in BIH ” are adequately and effectively used.
Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH urges all entities responsible for implementation of aims and measures under the Revised State Strategy to start implementing their obligations so as to realise the planned aims. In connection with that, the Council of Ministers of BIH gives its full support to the Steering Body in realisation of all mentioned activities.
Since there is still a considerable number of files that cannot be solved due to process impediment of unavailability of indicted/accused individuals, the Council of Ministers of BIH urges all responsible legislative, executive and court authorities, and international organisations, as well as the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Trials, to take all needed measures so that mechanisms of regional cooperation in processing war crime files is fully used and additionally improved.
INCREASE OF TOTAL STATE AID
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Annual Report on State Aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2023, which proves the that total state aid was increased relevant to the year before.
According to the Report, total recorded state aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023 was KM 584,63,488.00 or EUR 298,920,401.05, which is an increase for KM 103.881,716.00 or 21.60% relevant to 2022, an increase for KM 143,107,836.84 or 32.40% relevant to 2021.
The total state aid is made of state aid in sectors of industry and services (both horizontal and vertical), small value state aid (de minimis aid), state aid for service provision of general economic interest and state aid in agriculture and fishery.
A share of state aid in GDP in 2021 was 1.18% and in 2022 it was 1.05%, while in 2023 it was 1.19%.
Simultaneously, the state aid per capita in 2023 was KM 165, which is an increase for 21.61% or 29.42% relevant to 2022 and for 32.41% or KM 40.53 relevant to 2021.
APPOINTED POLICE ATTACHEÉ OF REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA IN BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for appointment of Damjan Žagar to the post of Police Attach of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (end)
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