Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 24th Session
01/28/2021
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined the Ministry of Civil Affairs proposal for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on procurement services between UNICEF and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The aim of the MoU is to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in realisation a vaccine procurement contract, titled “Commitment agreement-committed purchase arrangement” between the Council of Ministers and Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI).
The MoU enables UNICEF, as an authorised coordinator of the Instrument for global access to vaccine against Covid-19 (COVAX), to assist in procurement procedures for BIH within COVAX mechanism.
Late last year, the Council of Ministers approved a multi-annual project of financing the costs stemming from contractual arrangements for procurement of health countermeasures against Covid-19, to include the use of the BIH Budget funds in amount of KM 2 million. The funds are intended for covering expenses made in the vaccine procurement process that include delivery, import and distribution, transport costs, storing and quality insurance.
The Proposal MoU will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Civil Affairs was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
JAPAN GRANTS JPY 100 MILLION FOR BIH HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
A Proposal Agreement was defined though an exchange of notes between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Japan on Japanese grant in amount of JPY 100,000,000 for equipping medical institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Japanese grant will be used for procurement of medical and other required supplies and materials needed for medical institutions in BIH.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH will distribute the medical supplies, according to the needs announced, to the Entity and Brčko District of BIH institutions.
The Proposal Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the proposed BIH signatory of the Agreement Note will be the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BIH.
HUNGARY GRANTED 200k PROTECTIVE MASKS NAD 10k PRIOTECTIVE SUITS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on distribution of international assistance for protection and rescue in equipment and other means.
It is the international assistance for protection and rescue for the needs of containment of corona virus, and it consists of 200,000 protective masks and 10,000 protective suits, donated by the Government of Hungary.
The assistance will be distributed to Republika Srpska and the Federation of BIH, in 49% share to each and 2% to the Brčko District.
SARAJEVO CITY TRANSPORT PROEJCT RECEIVES EUR 40 MIL. EIB LOAN
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Financial Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on Sarajevo City Transport Project, worth EUR 40 million.
The total EIB loan for this project is EUR 75 million, and the first part of EUR 40 million was approved today, while the remainder of funds will be regulated under a separate contract.
The loan was allocated to the Federation of BIH, and the Project implementation holder is the Ministry of Transport of the Sarajevo Canton. The loan term is 25 years, including a five-year grace period.
The Sarajevo City Transport Project is worth total EUR 181 million, and its implementation is planned to take place through three connected city transport sub-projects in the Sarajevo Canton, aimed to improve public line passenger transport and city communications.
The Proposal Contract with the Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
BIH TAKES EVEN PART AT INTERNATIONAL PPOSTAL MARKET
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal platform for acceptance of acts of the World Postal Alliance, adopted at the 3rd extraordinary congress in Geneva, in end September 2019.
Bosnia and Herzegovina thus continues to fulfil obligations stemming from our country’s membership in the World Postal Union, and will participate equally at the international market of postal services. That will secure economic viability of postal operators and service provision in accordance with international standards and advancement of ICT.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide the Proposal Platform to the BIH Presidency fur further approval procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs was proposed for the signatory of the Instrument on acceptance.
BIH AND HUNGARY SUPPORT YOUTH COOPERATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Platform for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the area of youth between the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry for Human Resources of Hungary for the purpose of further strengthening of bilateral relations.
The incentive and development of cooperation in the area of youth includes, among other things, exchange of information, knowledge and research works, mutual visits by youth delegations and representatives of youth-researchers, exchange of invitations for international youth events to be held in the two countries, including the organisation of joint work groups consisted by young representatives from BIH and Hungary, respectively.
The Platform for conclusion of the Memorandum will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Civil Affairs was proposed for the BIH signatory.
RATIFICATION OF BIH PAKISTAN READMISSION AGREEMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, upon proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, five proposal decisions on ratification of agreement and contracts, among which there were proposal Decision on Ratification of a Readmission Agreement between the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Protocol between the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Implementation of the Readmission Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Pakistan.
Additional four proposal decisions refer to ratification procedure for: a Loan Contract (Credit Line 2 to the Deposit Insurance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on International Road Transport; Loan Contract (GRCF2 – V2 – Sarajevo City Transport Project, Part III) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; Grant Contract (Gradačac Water Supply Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which refers to an investment grant from the European Joint Fund for Western Balkans Programme.
The proposal decisions will be severally provided to the BIH Presidency for further ratification procedure.
KM 52.5 MIL. FOR TRANSPORT AND COMMUNCIATIONS SECTOR
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed decision on distribution of funds collected from permissions for use of the radiofrequency spectrum for service provision via mobile access systems.
It is the amount of KM 52.5 million to be used for development of the Communication (70%) and Communications (30%) sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Decision creates conditions for preparation of a special decision to define individual projects financed from these resources, to be taken by the Council of Ministers upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport.
DEI POLL: 75% REPONDENTS FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a piece of information on results on public opinion poll titled “Citizens’ Positions on EU membership and EU Integrations Process”, conducted directorate for European Integrations in October 2020.
The poll showed that 75.6% respondents would vote for membership in the European Union in case of a poll is organised, or 1% less than in 2019. The EU accession was supported by 87% citizens of the Federation of BIH, 55% of citizens of Republika Srpska and 83.6% of the Brčko District of BIH respondents.
BIH citizens in favour of the EU membership stated their reasons most often as a guarantee of permanent peace and political stability (33.2%), freedom of movement of people, goods and capital (26%), compliance to laws and regulations (18.4%). An anxiety as to increased living costs and taxes is most often stated as the reason against joining the EU.
To a question which reform is necessary for the improvement of everyday life of citizens, 51.2% respondents said it is anti-corruption measures, which is for 4.4% more than in last year’s poll. Total 21.5% respondents believe that court and prosecutorial offices reform is necessary, and 7.7% believes that welfare system reform is needed.
Total 24.2% respondents believe that the European Union is interested for accession of BIH because of natural resources, 18.9% believe it is because of securing peace and stability, while 18.5% respondents pointed at professional and qualified labour.
Total 18% respondents believe that BIH applied for the EU membership, and 25% said the membership negotiations are on-going. The major use from BIH access to the EU is to the youth, according to 47.6% respondents, while 23.5% of them believe those most benefitting would be politicians, which is an increase for 4.5% relevant to year 2019.
More than half of citizens participating in the poll (54.3%) think that the politicking of the integrations process makes the BIH integration into the European Union difficult, which is for 10.9% more than in previous year.
The poll was conducted under CATI method, on 1,200 respondent sample, representational for the whole state.
LEGAL AND NATURAL PERSONS PAID KM 747,625.92 FOR ANTI-COVID MEASURES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security report on realisation of a decision of distribution of finances collected from domestic legal and natural persons for containing the Covid-19 pandemics, paid to special sub-account of the Single Treasury Account of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A call of Bosnia and Herzegovina for international assistance for protection and rescue was responded by legal and natural persons form BIH, who paid total KM 747,625.92 to the Single Treasury Account special sub-account. The sources were allocated to the Federation of BIH in amount of KM 459,789.93, to Republika Srpksa in amount of KM 280,359.72, and to the Brčko District of BIH in amount of KM 7,476.26, in accordance with a Decision on principles of distribution of international assistance for protection and rescue.
DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS PAID BY AZERBEIJAN AND BAYER
The Council of Ministers adopted the Ministry of Security-tabled report on realisation of a decision on distribution of international relief for protection and rescue funds, paid to the BIH Single Treasury Account special sub-account.
A call requiring international relief for protectionary and rescue, sent by upon a decision of the Council of Ministers on April 1, 2020, was responded by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Bayer Company, Pharmaceutical Company, L.t.d. Ljubljana, both of which paid total KM 1,073,575.17 to the BIH Single Treasury Account.
In accordance with a Decision on principles of distribution of international assistance for protection and rescue, the Federation of BIH got KM 660,248.73, Republika Srpska got KM 402,590.69, and the Brčko District got KM 10,735.75.
DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNATIAONAL ORGANISATION FOR RELIEF, PROTECTION AND DEVELOPEMNT ASSISTANCE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Security of BIH on realisation of a Decision on distribution of financial resources from the international assistance for protection and rescue, paid to the BIH Single Treasury Account special sub-account.
Upon a call of Bosnia and Herzegovina for international assistance for protection and rescue, the International Organisation for Relief and Welfare, founded by the World Islamic League, paid KM 535,852.96 to the Single Treasury Account special sub-account.
Pursuant to a Decision on principles of distribution of international assistance for protection and rescue, the Federation of BIH got KM 329,549.57, Republika Srpska got KM 200,944.86, and the Brčko District of BIH got KM 5,358.53.
THREE REPORTS ADOPTED ON DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN EQUIPMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted three reports of the Ministry of Security on realisation of a decision on distribution of international assistance for protection and rescue in equipment and other means.
The reports gave a detailed information on assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in equipment, medicine and other means for containing Covid-19, donated by the Republic of Croatia, Poland, State of Qatar, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Slovenia, Malaysia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as NGOs and individuals from the People’s Republic of China, and Child Choir from the Chinese city of Wuxi.
Also, the reports include data in distribution of assistance to Republika Srpska, the Federation of BIH and Brčko District, in accordance with the Decision on principles of distribution of international assistance for protection and rescue.
BASICS FOR SALARIES IN BIH DIPLOMATIC-CUNSULAR NETWORK DETERMIEND
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-proposed decision on identifying the level of basics salary in the diplomatic-consular offices of Bosnia and Herzegovina in year 2020.
The proposal basics salary in BIH diplomatic consular offices was calculated on the grounds of the latest statistical indices of the United Nations on living costs in June 2020.
The amount of KM 1,600 was taken as the starting point for New York, thus to make the basic salaries decrease in 41 offices and to slightly increase in 14 offices, while it will remain the same in one diplomatic-consular office, respective to year 2019. The decision will be realised within the approved budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH.
BIH HIGH JUDICIAL AND PROSECUTORIAL COUNCIL AWARDS DATA BASE TO BE OPENED FOR PUBLIC
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to invalidate a decision on level of reimbursement for access to court awards data base with the Judicial Documentation Centre of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BIH (HJPC) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The decision supported a notion of the BIH HJPC to make the data base of court awards with the BIH HJPC Department for judicial documentation and education open to public.
IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY AND RELEVANCE OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Civil Affairs-proposed decision to adopt a document “Improvement of Quality and Relevance of Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, based relevant 2021-2030 Riga Conclusions, which is a framework document for a ten-year activities for all relevant institutions in BIH.
According to the documents, competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina should complete the realisation of Riga conclusions by year 2030, which would contribute to an integration of vocational education and training into the so-called European area of vocational education and training and will accelerate BIH European path.
The competent authorities will implement five aims, harmonised with the Riga conclusions, referring to quality insurance in accordance with the European quality assurance reference framework for vocational education and training (EQUAVET), to include the accessibility of vocational education and training for all, continued integration of key competences in the initial and continuous vocational education and training, and professional up-grading of teachers, trainers an mentors.
ADULT EDUCATION CONTINUED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMICS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Civil Affairs-tabled piece of information on implementation of a Strategic Platform of adult education development in the context of life-long education in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014-2020.
The piece of information contains a review of activities taken by the Agency for Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education of BIH and responsible education authorises in BIH (Republika Srpska, ten cantons in the Federation of BIH, and Brčko District of BIH) on implementation of activities connected to realisation of strategic aims of adult education in time period form October 2019 to October 2020.
The achievements of all-level education authorities were recognised in terms of adult education-relevant legislation taken by all-level authorities, in addition to supported activities of the BIH Agency for Preschool, Primary and Secondary Education in programmes relating to adult education, such as the European Adult Learning Agenda (EAAL) and Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe (EPALE).
The adult education continued in BIH even during the current Covid-19 pandemics in 2020 by way on e-learning, assuring the continuity of education process. Also, investments were made to digitalisation, strengthening human and technical capacities and developing new, high quality and flexible adult education programmes, which will remain the imperative in future.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will pass the piece of information to all relevant education institutions in BIH, to be engaged in drafting a comprehensive evaluation of the 2014-2020 Strategic Platform of Adult Education in the context of life-long learning in BIH.
BIH REQUIRES PROTECTIVE MECHANISMS IN INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled piece of information on implementation on effects analysis of investment promotion and protection agreements, concluded by Bosnia and Herzegovina, accompanied by proposal further activities.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations has taken a series of activities, including a temporary cessation of conclusion of new agreements, in order to equal the rights of the state, as the regulator, with those of investors, and to additionally explain or remove provisions that may be used for unjustifiable clams against the BIH.
A detailed analysis of already concluded agreements was completed, with a purpose to propose new, more contemporary solutions to enable the state to reform its international investment agreements and secure the right to regulation in public interest, with keeping the effective level of investment protection. Therefore, BIH representatives has been included in key issue-solving activities at both reginal and multilateral levels as to dispute solving mechanisms between investors and investment host countries.
Relevant activities were taken for an early detection and prevention of international claims against Bosnia and Herzegovina, including systematic regulation of communication and coordination of responsible institutions in case of amicable solution of disagreements or action upon investors’ claims. The Ministry works on other activities, as well, like defining of protective mechanisms in all investment agreements and contracts of BIH economic entities, to and include contracted arbitrage.
ACTION PLAN FOR CAPACITY UP-BUILDING OF CIVIL PROTECTION MECHANISMS IN BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security-proposed Action Plan for implementation of the TAIEX Mission conclusions concerning an expert assessment of 2020-2025 civil protection system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The action plan consists of short-term, mid-term and long-term aims with the identified activities, activity holders, implementation partners, progress indicators and deadlines.
The aim is to lift the civil protection capacities and enable BIH to become a member of the Union Mechanism for Civil Protection.
The mechanism coordinates response to natural and man-made catastrophes a the Euroepan Union level.
The Ministry of Security of BIH was tasked to provide the Action Plan to all responsible institutions in BIH and coordinate the implementation thereof.
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