Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds its 27th Session
02/12/2021
The Council of Ministers defined unanimously a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Public Procurement, which does not contain an inspection surveillance chapter. Thus, a gradual harmonisation process with the European Union relevant directive was made and one of 14 priorities of the European Committee Opinion fulfilled.
The Proposal Law, tabled by the Public Procurement Agency, modernises the BIH public procurement system and enables an announcement of procurement plans, together with basic elements of contract realisation, at one stop at the Public Procurement web-site, making the public procurement process even more transparent and facilitates following thereof.
Also, the Law amendments introduce better anti-corruption provisions and drafts conflict of interest provision after the EU standard, in addition to defining norms of an institute of prior market check, to be implemented by a contracting authority for the purpose of procurement preparation and economic entities advising of its plans and requirements as to a specific procurement.
Since it holds the EI mark, as a confirmation of its harmonisation with relevant provisions of the European Union, the Proposal Law will be sent to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for consideration under a shortened procedure.
DRAFT BUDGET ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, with five to four votes a Draft Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2021, to be sent to the BIH Presidency by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury for proposing thereof.
The total revenues, receivables and financing of BIH institutions in 2021 are Km 1,027,100,000, which si a increase of 3% relative to the last year’s budget, while BIH foreign debt servicing is KM 843,905,504 and is higher for 5% than in 2020.
Direct taxation revenues are KM 780,000,000 and there are at the level of year 2020.
The total expenditures of Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions and foreign debt servicing in the 2021 Draft Budget of BIH are KM 1,871,005,504 and are higher for 4% or for KM 67,452,574 relative to year 2020.
BIH PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY TO 2025
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed 2021-2025 Public Finance Management Improvement Strategy in BIH Institutions, for the purpose of an increased transparency and harmonisation with international and EU standards.
The aim is to compile strategies at all levels, developed by the Entity and Brčko District of BIH authorities in order to form a comprehensive and integrated framework for planning, coordination, implementation and progress monitoring towards an effective use of available public resources.
The Strategy defines key reform plans as a response to needs for improvement of public finance management, as one of key public administration pillars in BIH institutions.
The Strategy represents a baseline for coordination of both financial and technical assistance by IFIs, EU and other development partners.
The Strategy supports BIH ambitions in fulfilment of the EU accession criteria, and the improvement of public finance management correlates either directly or indirectly with six negotiation chapters.
The Strategy relays on six pillars and it includes fiscal framework, indirect taxation revenues, planning and budget, budget execution, internal control an external audit.
Each pillar and measure have defined aims, activity holders and outputs to be monitored in specified time spans with proposed sources and funds.
ABOUT EUR 6.2 MILLION GRANT FOR BUNA-POČITELJ MOTORWAY ON CORRIDOR V c
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Grant Contract (Corridor V c, sub-section Buna – Počitelj) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, referring to an investment grant under the European Joint Fund for Western Balkans.
It is the European Union grant worth EUR 6,219,140, and the funds thereof are intended for construction by international standards of 7.2 km long motorway between Buna and Počitelj.
The Proposal Contract with its Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
CORRIDOR V c: MORE THAN 9.2 EUR EU GRANT FOR TUNNEL ZENICA – DONJA GRAČANICA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Grant Contract (Corridor V c 2, sub-section Tunnel Zenica – Donja Gračanica) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which refers to an investment grant from the European Joint Fond for Western Balkans, worth EUR 9,222,000.
The non-refundable resources approved by the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Motorways of Federation of BIH, as the project company, will be directed to a part of the project of 3.9 km long road construction under international standards between Donja Gračanica and the Zenica Tunnel, including the North loop with a bridge across the River Bosna and a connecting road for inclusion into the highway.
The Proposal Contract with its Platform will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
595,000 EU GRANT FOR IMROVED WATER SUPPLY IN ZVORNIK
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Grant Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, the town of Zvornik, and the European Investment Bank, Joint European Fund for Western Balkans/VB-IG04-BIH-ENV-02, “Bosnia and Herzegovina, WATSAN Programme (Water Supply and Sanitation Programme)” in Republika Srpska Lokanj-Pilica: Water supply Phase 1 and waste waters purification facility for the communities of Tabance in the town of Zvornik”.
The European Union grant is worth EUR 595.000, and the overall aim of the Project is to improve the water supply system and waste water management in Zvornik. It will be made by construction of a system to guarantee supply of sufficient quantities if hygienically safe water to consumers, in addition to construction of a local water purification facility in the community of Tabanci.
The grant covers a half of the total required resources for the Project estimated at EUR 1,190,000, and the remaining funds were secured by EIB loan of EUR 254.8,000 and through local contributions of 320,000.
INVESTEMTN TO WATERSUPPLY: SECURED EUR 1.5 MILLI9NMN EU GRANT FOR JAJCE
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Grant Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Municipality of Jajce, and the European Investment Bank, Joint European Fund for Western Balkans/VB-IG04-BIH-ENV-04. “Bosnia and Herzegovina, WATSAN Project in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Investment in water supply on the right bank of the Vrbas River and decreasing of water losses in the Municipality of Jajce”.
It is an EU grant worth EUR 1.5 million, which will benefit 27,258 residents of Jajce, whose living conditions will be improved by providing adequate sanitary services and meeting the needs for water supply and waste waters storing.
The project provides for a construction and investment into water supply on the right bank of the River Vrbas from the Resnik source, and decrease of water loss within the existing system, as well as development of seven small facilities for water purification on the right bank of the Vrbas River in the Municipality of Jajce.
The total project value is estimated at EUR 9,244,964, of which the EIB loan is EUR 4.09 million, the Municipality of Jajce contribution is EUR 2.04 million, WBIF grant is EUR 1.5 million, and the rest of resources are EUR 1.61 million.
The Proposal Agreement with its Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BH signatory.
INCREASED GRANT FOR SUPPORT OF STATE HOUSING PROJECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined two amendments to a Grant Agreement for support to a state housing project between the Council of Europe Development Bank and Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the Regional Housing Programme (RSP).
The Amendment 1 refers to the sixth project within the State Housing Project in BIH titled “Reconstruction/construction of 195 family houses and construction of 353 flats in housing buildings for displaced persons and returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina””. Thus the grant value was increased for EUR 1,190.9937 reaching the total value of EUR 16,260,217, since the donor community had earlier approved EUR 14,800,000.
Under the Amendment 2, an additional financial assistance was secured in amount of EUR 1,555,200 in the time period 2020-2022, which will be sufficient to cover 20% RSP operative costs in BIH, while the remaining 80% should be secured by a national contribution.
The state housing project concerning RSP is aimed to provide a permanent solution for housing of refugees, returnees and displaced persons, however with a higher degree of inclusivity of vulnerable categories.
Separate proposals with the belonging platforms will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the signatory thereof.
CoMBIH ACCEPTS INITIATIVE FOR “VLAŠIĆ” WINDMILL COSNTRUCTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an initiative and appointed a negotiating team for the conclusion of a Loan and Project Agreement between KfV, Fankfurt am Main, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (Borrower) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Public Company Power Utility BIH, Sct. Sarajevo (Implementing agency). In amount of EUR 36 million for the Windmill construction project “Vlašić”.
The construction of windmill of MW 50 power on the Vlašić plate in the Central Bosnia Canton creates conditions for power generation for the needs of BIH power system. The project will contribute to economic development of BIH, with use of renewable sources of energy and decrease of hothouse gases.
The estimated investment value is EUR 75 million, to be financed from KfV and EIB loans in amount of EUR 36 million each, and through domestic resources of the Public Company Power Utility BIH in amount of EUR three million.
FAO GRANT FOR BETTER NATURE RESPONSE TO DISASTERS IN AGRICULTURE
The session adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed signing of a project agreement on technical cooperation programme titled “Decreasing disaster risk for sustainable development” between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations.
It is about the RAO grant worth USD 190,000 for implementation of the project to decrease exposure and improve resilience to natural disaster risks in agriculture by strengthening of capacities and coordination mechanisms.
The proposal for signing of the project agreement will be provided to the BIH presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
VACCINES AGAISNT SARS-CoV IN CUSTOMS PROCEDURE
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on amendments to a decision on setting customs tariff for 2021, for the sake of harmonisation with the European Union, which published an amended Combined Nomenclature for year 2021.
The amendments refer to including tariff marks for vaccines against virus SARS-CoV, and FFP face masks used as protection against Covid-19 virus, in order to follow the movement of these medical supplies.
CADETS ADMISSION PLAN IN SIPA
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on setting a plan of admission of cates into police agencies at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina institutions in 2021, namely, to the State Investigations and Protection Agency (SIPA).
The plan provides for admission of 10 cadets – junior inspector rank - in SIPA, and their admission will not pass the upper limit of employment in the Agency.
The employment was planned for September 2021, after the end of their four-month training, which started will star in April 2021.
NUMBER OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS IN BIH DECREASED IN NOVEMBER
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted and will send to the BIH Presidency a piece of information of the Ministry of Security on situation in the area of migrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina for November 2020, when 924 illegal migrants were reported, which was for 27% less than in the month before, when 1.263 illegal migrants were reported.
According to the BIH Border Police, 360 individuals were detected in the illegal border crossing or attempting to cross the border in November, which was for 70% less than in the same month 2019, when 1.218 were detected.
Out of total 845 individuals declaring their intention to apply for asylum, only 12 of them or 1.4% did so.
According to the Foreigners’ Affairs Service, in November 2020, total 79 individuals were moved away from the territory of BIH, of which 23 citizens of Pakistan, 17 of Afghanistan, 12 of Morocco, five citizens of Turkey, and 18 individuals from other states.
For eleven months of 2020, the Foreigners’ Affairs Service reported total 15.520 illegal migrants, which is a drop for 45% relative to the same month 2019, when total 28.213 illegal migrants were reported.
For the purpose of prevention of Corona virus containment, last November, 995 individuals were sent to preventive isolation and 34 to symptomatic isolation. Out of five tested individuals, two were positive to corona virus.
According to the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), no migrant was hospitalised to November 30, 2020, and no deceased from Covid-19 were reported among migrants.
MORE CHILDREN IN PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS, LESS IN SCHOOLS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information from the Ministry of Civil Affairs on statistics in education in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2020, which reviews data on pre-school, primary, secondary and high education.
In 390 pre-school institutions in 2019/2020 enrolled were 30,587 children or 7.3% more than in the previous year, the nursery group had 6.076 or 7.3% more children in relation to year 201872019, while 4.316 children wait to be enrolled, despite an increase of number of pre-school institutions last year; therefore, securing the access and increase of coverage of pre-school educations remain the important priorities in this area.
In the academic 2019/2020 year, in 1.785 primary schools enrolled were 274.034 pupils, which is for 5.984 pupils less than in the year before. In the same academic year, in 315 ( in the year before there were 311) secondary schools enrolled were 112.796 pupils or less for 4.679 or 4% relative to year 2018/2019. The majority of pupils selected technical schools, 55.7%, and then gymnasiums 22%, while professional schools were enrolled by 19% pupils, and small percentage enrolled to other schools.
According to the Centre for Information and Diploma Recognition in High Education, there are 51 licenced high education institutions in our country, while the Agency for Development of High Education and Quality Insurance lists 32 high school institutions, two more then in the previous academic year.
Last year, 81,228 students were enrolled to the first cycle of high education, including integrated studies in the winter term, which is less for about six thousand students respective to the year before. Among students there are 69,438 freshmen and 11,790 graduating students. In the five-year period of time, there was a significant drop in number of both enrolled and graduated students.
REALISED 90% CONCLUSIONS FROM CoM SESSIONS
Upon a proposal of the Secretariat-General, a Review of realisation of conclusions from 44 held sessions of the Council of Ministers of BIH - 15 regular and 29 extraordinary sessions - in time period from January 1 to September 30, 2020.
The review covered 27 institutions of the Council of Ministers, which realised 566 out of adopted 628 conclusions or 90%, and 62 conclusions were not realised.
All Ministries and other institutions failing to realise the Council of Ministers conclusions were urged to do so without delay, and report it the Council of Ministers Secretariat-General as soon as possible.
The Council of Ministers’ conclusions realisation should be a priority in future.
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