Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 30th Session

TEMPORRARY FINANCING 

The Council of Ministers took unanimously a decision on temporary financing of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for April-June 2021,  proposed by the Ministry of finance and Treasury, in amount of KM 249 million, which represents one quarter of resources approved for financing of BIH Institutions, in accordance with the Law on Budget of BIH Institutions for year 2020.

A finalisation of a Draft Law on 2021 Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH is in the process, pursuant to the BIH Presidency request of inclusion of funds for the Covid-19 pandemics related requirements.

DEFINITION OF STATUS OF FUTURE BC SVILAJ

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal platform for launching negotiations on a Contract on Amendments and Supplements to the Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia on border crossings.

The aim of the supplements is to strengthen mutual relations and cooperation of the two states for an easier crossing of the joint state border, i.e. establishment of an effective control system of crossing of the joint state border.

The status of the Svijal, future international border crossing on the Corridor V c is set for the passenger transport, and transport of goods will be opened as conditions allow.

The  Proposal platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, with a proposal for the BIH Minister of Security as the signatory of the Contract.

CoM ACTION PLAN FOR OGP

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice-tabled report on realisation of the Council of Ministers Action Plan for an Initiative “Partnership for Open Government” 2019-2021 implementation.

The report lists the activities realised to the end of implementation of this, first Action Plan, following an official accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 2014, to a multilateral global initiative for transparency and openness of activities of public government (Open Government Partnership).

The implemented Action Plan measures should strengthen institutional integrity, improve public funds management, increase institutions’ transparency, in addition to an improving cooperation and increased participation of civil society in creation of public policies.  Activities for the improvement of public services by application of open data either started or are in the preparation process.

Among the realised measures there is the Budget for citizens of BIH and International Obligations of 2020, drafted and posted at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH web site, and it may be found at the Council of Ministers web page, as well.

DECREASED DEATH TOLL IN CAR ACCIDENTS

The Council of Ministers adopted the Ministry of Communications and Transport-tabled report with accompanying conclusions on realisation of the 2016-2030 Framework Transport Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for October 2016 – December 2020 reported period of time.

The Report includes activities implemented by relevant institutions of BIH, Republika Srpska, Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BIH, with precisely set projects implemented or in the implementation phase, as per agreed-to dynamics.

After Amendments and Supplements to the Law in Basic Safety, taken in 2017 and 2018, which introduced stricter traffic enforcements, data suggest that a death toll on BIH roads was decreased. Total 261 individuals died in car accidents in 2019, while the number in 2016 was 321.

According to the report, the number of total car accidents on BIH roads was decreased for more than five thousand in 2019, with 34,519 reported in 2019, compared to 39,543 reported in 2016. Also the number of car accidents resulting in killed or injured persons – was 7,716 in 2016, while the number in 2019 was 7,216.

BIH DECREASES HOT HOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed Plan for Defined NDC of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2020-2030.

Bosnia and Herzegovina thus reflects its intention to decrease gas emission causing a hot house global-level effect, pursuant to the Paris Agreement guidelines, as well as the European Union global policies, aligned with the Western Balkans Green Agenda, which represents a set of guidelines for achieving climate neutrality aim until year 2050.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the NDC 2020-2030 to a the BIH contact institution for UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the purpose of passing it to the UNFCCC Secretariat.

BIH PARTICOPATION IN RYCO

The Council of Ministers adopted the Ministry of Civil Affairs-proposed piece of information on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) for year 2020.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs was tasked to cooperate with RYCO in providing all future calls for applications submission equally to both Entities and the Brčko District of BIH, in order to increase a number of admissible applications from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Last year, the fourth public call was opened for project proposals to benefit EUR 330,000 for support and building of partnerships among civil society organisations, secondary schools and other actors in implementation of regional cooperation-related activities, thereby creating a favourable environment for the regional youth cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemics.

Out of total submitted 129 applications from the Western Balkans region, 23 (18%) were from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 44 regional partner organisations were prepared, which is  a slight increase relative to the last year’s call. So, 11 applications were accepted, while 12 of them failed to meet criteria from the relevant Guidelines. In the evaluation process, implemented by the RYCO responsible body - including external evaluators - financing was approved for two projects from BIH, namely, by Youth Association for Peace, Sarajevo, and by BIRN – Balkan Research Journalism Regional Network, Sarajevo.

COORDINATION COMMITTEE FOR SMALL AND LIGHT ARMS CONTROL

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision to appoint a Coordination Committee for Small and Light Weapons Control in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The SALW Control Coordination Committee comprises of representatives of the Ministry of Security, State Investigations and Protection Agency, Direction for Coordination of Police Bodies, Border police, BIH Prosecutorial Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Ministry of Defence, Indirect Taxation Administration, Entity Ministries of Interior, and Brčko District of BIH Police.

The Coordination Committee should monitor the implementation of the SALW Control Strategy and the belonging Action Plan, initiate activities with responsible bodies of BIH, prepare the Strategy and Action Plan revision, and report the Council of Ministers annually on the Strategy and its Action Plan goals implementation.

BIH ARCHIVES GOT MANAGERS

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Danijela Mrda for Manager  of the Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Šimun Novaković and Fuad Ohranović for Deputy Managers, as the best ranked candidates at the implemented  job vacancy  procedure, according to the Civil Service Agency Opinion.

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