Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 14th Session

AGREEMENT ON FINANCING ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Agreement on financing Annual Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2022 between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers Directorate for European Integrations.

It is the agreement worth EUR 45,500,000.00 to be fully financed by the European Union, according to an earlier concluded Framework Agreement between the European Commission and BOIH for implementation of the EU financial assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina within the 2021-2027 Pre-Accession Assistance Instrument (IPA III).

Under the 2022 Annual Action Plan the EU supports IPA III beneficiaries for implementation and promotion of reform strategies in judiciary, public administration, public finances, European integrations, climate change, in addition to employment and social welfare.

The European Union thus continues to show its commitment for further progressing of BIH on tis European road.

The Agreement term is 12 years and the operative implementation term is six years as from its conclusion.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement with Platform for its conclusion to the BiH Presidency for further procedure, along with a proposal for the Director of the Council of Ministers Directorate for European Integrations as the BIH signatory.

PERMANENT ACCOMODATION FOR REGIONAL SIPA OFFICE IN BANJA LUKA

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision to approve a project, providing an accommodation facility for the State Agency for Investigations and Protection (SIPA) in Banja Luka, of total value of KM 5.8 million.

The project will be included into the 2023-2024 Multi-Annual Capital Investments Programme, financed under the BIH Institutions Budget, so that KM 3,480,000 will be secured in 2023 and remaining KM 2,32,000 in 2024, as planned.

This will solve the accommodation of the regional SIPA Office in Banja Luka, making a long-term savings, since the monthly rent costs were KM 16,977 without VAT.

A deadline for the project completion is a year after finances are secured.

MULTI-ANNUAL BIH ITA PROJECT ENDORSED

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve a multi-annual project” Construction and Furbishing of Accommodation Facility for the Indirect Taxation Administration Employees with the Sarajevo Airport”, estimated at KM six million.

The funds for realisation of the project will be secure from the BIH Institutions Budget, namely KM 3.8 million in 2023 and 2.2 KM million in 2024.

At the Customs Office with the Sarajevo Airport, employees with the ITA control services use the facility and business premises held by the Sarajevo Airport, which is not adequate from the aspect of employees-related standards set.

The multi-annual project defines construction of a facility of total 700 square meters surface, including construction of necessary infrastructure and furbishing.

The end of planned works on the Sarajevo Airport Customs Office will secure optimal conditions for operation customs and other control services, and it would accelerate flow of goods and travellers and would shorten the time of control.

PROJECT APPROVED FOR STRENGTHENING OF E-GOVERNMENT SYSTEM

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Secretariat-General-proposed decision to approve a multi-annual capital investments project - E-Government Services and System Security Improvement and Extension to the BIH Institutions.

The BIH Institutions Budget funds will be secured over the several-year time period.

The Project provides for improvement of service security and modernisation of E-Government system, with consolidation of network and Wi-Fi, currently used by 58 Institutions of BIH, in addition to equipment procurement and linking of new institutions to the e-government system.

CHANGE IN BIH COORDINATION BODY FOR TRGOVSKA GORA

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to amend the Decision appointing members of the Coordination Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the issue of storing radioactive waste and depleted nuclear fuel at the Trgovska Gora site.

Under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic relations-proposed decision, the Coordination Body includes ex officio new Federal Minister for Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder instead of previous Minister Edita Đapo.

TO ENABLE FUNCTIONAL OPERATION OF CIOMMITTEE FOR COOPERATION WITH NATO

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on amendments and supplements to the Decision on Establishment of Committee for Cooperation with NATO, which brought changes to the Committee membership due to personnel changes with certain BIH Institutions.

The aim is to enable functional operation of the Committee after the proposal amendments and supplements to the Decision were provided by the State-level Ministries of Defence, Security, finance and Treasury, Communications and Transport, Foreign Affairs and Human Rights and Refugees.

DECISION ON USE 0F CRA ACCUMULATED SURPLUS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed decision on use of accumulated surplus funds and expenditures of the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, set as at December 31, 2022 to amount KM 16,754,512.68.

According to the decision, KM seven million will be used for provision and furbishing of office premises for needs of the regional CRA offices in Banja Luka (KM three mil.), Mostar ( KM 2 mil.), and for adaptation of business premises in Sarajevo at the CRA HQ (KM two mil), in the Mehemda Saphe Street and Sime Milutinovića Street.

The remaining funds, in amount of KM 9.754,512,68 will be transferred from the CRA account to the Single Treasury Account of the BIH Institutions, and will be used for support to development and advancement of communication sector in BIH, in accordance with special decisions of the Council of Ministers of BIH, and upon a proposal by the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

PUBLISHING PUBLIC AD

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will open a public ad for election of six members of the Agency for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary School Education, and will implement job vacancy procedure.

This was concluded after the Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a piece of information on expired term for six members of the Agency Board; for five Board members in November 2022, and for one in March 2021.

The Agency Board is an expert body within the Agency for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary School Education, comprised of seven members, two from each constitutive people, one from others, and they are appointed to a three-year term.

TO DEFIENE CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMETN TO BIH COMPETITION COUNCIL

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision, with certain corrections, on criteria for designation of a member of the BIH Competition Council, to be appointed by the Council of Ministers.

The decision provides for general and special conditions to be met by candidates for a member of the competition Council, having regard of candidate’s education, professional work and relevant proficiency.

Also, a decision was made on appointment of a five-member committee for implementation of a vacancy procedure for five members of the Competition Council, to be appointed subsequently by the Council of Ministers of BIH.

TO REPEAT PUBLIC JOB VACANCY AD FOR DIRECTOR OF AGENCY FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on a procedure implemented for selection and appointment of Director of the Agency for Labour and Employment of BIH.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs was tasked to publish a job vacancy ad for selection and appointment of Director for the Agency for Labour and Employment of BIH.

The piece of information suggests that at the public job vacancy ad for Director fo the Agency for Labour and Employment, published this February, none of two applied candidates met conditions, and their applications were rejected.

USE OF BUDGET CURRENT RESERVES

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled piece of information on distribution of current reserve funds for I-III 2023.

The piece of information suggests that KM 1,995,000.00 was approved for use over the reported period of time, and KM 1,369,998.84 were realised. The major part of the current reserve funds, in amount of KM one million, refers to assistance to the Republic of Turkey for rehabilitation after an earthquake.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the piece of information on distribution of current reserve funds to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly.

2022 BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the 2022 BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH Budget Execution Report, to be provided by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to the BIH Presidency and BIH Parliamentarian Assembly. The Report will be published at the Council of Ministers and Ministry of Finance and Treasury web sites.

The funding of the Institutions in the first half of last year was based on decisions on temporary financing, since the Law on Budget and International Obligations of BIH for 2022 was adopted on June 30, 2022.

The total realised revenues, finances and receivables at disposal to BIH Institutions in 2022 were KM 1,112,984,162, of which indirect tax revenues were KM 865.5 million.

Total realised expenditures and costs from the BIH Institutions Budget in 2022 were KM 1,019,191,375, and they were higher for about KM 89.4 million in relation to the year before, mostly due to increased income levels of employees, after adoption of the BIH Budget.

In the course of year 20222, total realised expenditures and costs for foreign debt servicing were KM 802,351,376 and were higher for about KM 29 million in relation to year before. Expenditures for foreign debt services were KM 679,957,238 and for interest payment they were KM 106,930,880.

EFFECTIVE PUBLIC FINANCES MANAGEMENT

The Council of Minister of BH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled Analysis of 2022-2026 BIH Public Debt Sustainability, drafted in line with the IMF methodology.

Ti gave assessment of the current public indebtedness in BIH and projections of public indebtedness mid-term trajectory.

The analysis based on 2022-2025 scenario points at, among other things, BIH as a country with sustainable mid-term debt, while the projected real growth is placed between 2.0 % and 1.7%

The analysis of the BIH public debt sustainability helps effective public finances management and macroeconomic stability by showing effects and consequences of public indebtedness.

AGENDA 2030 IMPLMENETATION REPORT

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to Voluntary Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Implementation of Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Aims, proposed by the Directorate for Economic Planning.

The Report will be presented at UN High Level Political Forum, in New York, on July 10-19 this year.

This is the second voluntary report, which reviews strategic and institutional framework for Agenda 2030 implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with progress reviews as to goals realisation.

The report sheds light to the practice proved successful in sustainable aims implementation in BIH, and it highlights challenges faced by the country, and which should be addressed by its all-level authorities and the entre society.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is dedicated to transformation and modernisation of its society as a whole, in accordance with the Agenda 2030 for the aim of reaching a good and effective governance and public sector management, development of society of equal opportunities, and smart growth in the process and achieving the main foreign policy aim – the EU membership, reads the Report. It was noted that efforts have been invested to improvement of vertical cooperation among various authority levels and horizontal cooperation in terms of exchange of best experiences, especially among local communities and different interested groups. Additional efforts are directed to engagement of private sector, citizens and academic community towards achieving tangible results on the ground.

APPOINTEMETNS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on release from his duty Director of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina Mirsad Vilić, as he met conditions for retirement, and the decision takes effect as at day of the adoption and will be applied as at the day of publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.

Enes Karić was appointed Director of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies in BIH, as the best ranked candidate after completed job vacancy procedure, implemented by the Independent Committee of BIH Police Structure. The decision on appointment takes effect as at day of its adoption, and will be applied day after its publication in the “official gazette of BIH”.

Ensad Korman was appointed Deputy Director of the BIH Border Police, as the best ranked candidate from a list of candidates proposed by the Independent Committee, as an independent body of Bosnia and Herzegovina police structure. The decision takes effect as at day of its adoption and it will be applied day after its publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”. Previously, Fahrudin Halač was released from his duty of Deputy Director of the Border Police, and the relevant Decision takes effect as at its adoption, and will be applied day after its publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Opinion, accompanied by job vacancy ad  documentation, prepared by the BIH Civil Service Agency, and appointed Aleksandar Todorović as he best ranked candidate after the job vacancy ad procedure implemented, for Director of Institute for Standardisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision takes effect as at day of its adoption, and will be applied day after its publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.

The previous Director Aleksanadar Cincar was released from his duty because his term expired, and the relevant decision takes effect aa at day of tis adoption and will be applied as at day of its publication in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.

The Council of Ministers f BIH took note of several pieces of information on term expiry of two Acting Directors, namely of the Institute for Measurement of BIH and of Agency of Medicines and Medical Appliances of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as of term expiry of Acting Deputy Director of the Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since job vacancy procedures are in process, the Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Milica Ristović for Acting Director of the BIH Institute for Measurement and Nataša Grubiša for Acting Director of the Agency for Medicines and Medical Appliances of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who will continue on their current posts until the completion of relevant job vacancy procedure, for three months at longest.

At the same time, Petar Biličar was appointed Acting Deputy Director of the Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency of BH, starting from June 2, 2023 until the end of the relevant job vacancy procedure, for three months at longest. (end)