Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 50th Session
05/26/2022
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted unanimously a Document of 2022-2024 Framework Budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions, which includes a mid-term framework budget of BIH Institutions and preliminary Draft Budget of BIH Institutions for 2022, together with preliminary expenditure projections for 2023 and 2024.
The document leans on a Global Framework of Fiscal Balance and Policies in BIH for the same period of time, adopted by the Fiscal Council in end March this year, which defined a framework for financing of BIH Institutions for year 2022 in amount of KM 1,073,600,000, of which indirect tax revenues provide for KM 865,500,000 and remainder comes form own revenues. Also, preliminary expenditures of BIH Institutions for 2023 are projected at KM 1,073,900,000, and framework projections for year 2024 are KM 1,074,100,000.
The Framework Budget Document supports, as a priority, continuation of the European partnership-related reforms, further implementation of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, and securing of funds for implementation of 2022 general elections 2024 local elections, as well as securing of required finances for implementation of budget users’ multi-annual projects in this time span.
The Document will be published at the official Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH web site.
This enables the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to prepare and submit the 2022 Draft Budget Law of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of BIH to the BIH Council of Ministers, to be further passed to the BIH Presidency to adopt and send it to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, for final adoption.
RESCINDED COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR FOREIGNERS’ ENTRY TO BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on cessation of validity of a Decision on additional measures for foreigners’ entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby rescinding covid-related restrictive measures for an entry to BIH.
The decision was taken based on both data by responsible health institutions on favourable epidemiological situation in BIH for a longer period of time and a fact that the majority of countries of the region and the world have rescinded all measures applied to foreigners’ entry to their respective states.
Also, an earlier decision ceases to be valid on additional measures for entry of foreigners to Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with its amendments, published in the “BIH Official Gazette”, Nos. 57/20, 58/20 and 36/21.
The session took a decision on cessation of validity of decision on restrictions on movement and stay of foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, taken for the sake of protection of citizens’ health, after the World Health Organisation announced the corona virus pandemics, in March 2020.
Under the decision, measures banning movement and stay of foreigners outside relative accommodation centres will not be in force any longer.
These two decisions take effect as of the day of adoption and will be published in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.
REPEATED TARIFF QUOTAS FOR SUGAR
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to repeat quantities of tariff quotas of 50.000 tonnes in 2022, which refer to import of row sugar made of sugar lane, to be subsequently refined, and this is for the purpose of protection of food industry in BIH.
Other than contributing to the only sugar factory, situated in the Brčko District of BIH, it also protects domestic food production companies using sugar as input.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the decision in accordance with the Law on Customs Tariffs in 2022.
SUPPORTED HEALTH SYSTEMS PROMOTION PROJECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Health Systems Promotion Projects, worth EUR 67.3 million, equivalent to about USD 75 million.
The funds designated to the Entities – Republika Srpska in amount of EUR 48,060.000.000 and the Federation of BIH in amount of EUR 19.240.000 - are intended for the improvement of BIH health services quality and financial status and financial management.
The loan, with a repayment term of 32 years and seven year grace period, will be directed to improvement of effectiveness and quality of health protection of citizens of BIH.
The Proposal Agreement together with a platform for its conclusion will be sent to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
CoM SSUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for Agriculture Resilience and Competence Project, aimed to improve competitiveness of the sector at the European Union market.
The aim of the Project is also to improve the agricultural sector resilience to economic, climate and other changes, which wold add to both the agriculture competitiveness and improvement of food quality and safety.
The loan worth EUR 61.4 million will be allocated in equal shares of EUR 30.7 million to Republika Srpska and the Federation of BIH. Each Entity will pass EUR 1,576.000.000 to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations for the purpose of strengthening of agricultural information system capacities, through up-grading of veterinary IT, phytosanitary and food safety systems.
It is about a very concessive loan with 32 year term, including seven year grace period.
The Proposal Agreement with platform for its conclusion will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
BIH AND TURKEY FIGHT TOGETHER CROSS-BORDER CRIME
The session defined a Proposal Agreement on Security Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosna and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Turkey, which intensifies the overall bilateral cooperation in fight against all forms of cross-border crime.
The two states will, in accordance to domestic laws and international regulations, intensify their cooperation in countering all forms of cross-border crime, especially in regard to terrorism, organised crime, migrants smuggling, human trafficking, trafficking with narcotics and psychotropic substances and their precursors, in addition to cybercrime.
The competent implementation bodies will be the Ministry of Security of BIH and Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Turkey.
The Proposal Agreement and relative negotiation report, will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Ministry of Security was proposed for the signatory thereof.
NEW BIH-CROATIA BORDER-CROSSIGNS CONTRACT FOR SMOOTHEIER PASSAGE AND BETTER BORDER CONTROL
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Basics and appointed a negotiating team for a Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia on border-crossings, with corrections made at the session.
The new contract aims to create conditions for a smoother passing of joint state border and effective passage control system, benefiting both citizens and economy.
It defines border-crossings for international road transport of goods and passengers with all inspection services, including: cross-border transport of living animals; international road transport of goods and passengers, where transport is allowed for goods subject to phytosanitary control; international goods and passenger transport; for international road and passenger transport; for international railway transport; and for cross—border transport.
It regulates the operation of border-crossings and functioning of joint border-crossings, as well as setting-up of a joint committee.
The Proposal Basics will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the BIH signatory of the Contract will be the Minister of Security, while the session proposed a temporary application of the Contract as of the day of the signing thereof.
BIH ACCESSES AMENDMENT CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Protocol on Amendment of Article 50(a) and Article 56 of the Convention of International Civil Aviation, which would enable an increased number of representatives with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
This way, a clear intention of Bosnia and Herzegovina was announced to, in compliance with earlier adopted resolutions of the Assembly of International Civil Aviation Organisation and pursuant to relative recommendations, start a procedure for accession to Amendment of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, in order to make it effective.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH will provide the proposal Platform to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the BIH signatory of the Instrument of Accession/ Ratification will be the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
RATIFICATION OF AGREMENTS AND PROTOCOLS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-proposed several proposals for ratification of a 2018-2020 Finance Agreement for Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro for year 2020; Agreement between the European Commission, Bosna and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro; and Protocol amending and supplementing Convention for Protection of Individuals in automatic procession of personal data.
The several proposal decisions on ratification will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further ratification procedure.
APPROVED ENTRY AND STAY IN BIH UDNER SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR CHILDREN FROM KOSOVO
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve the entry and stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina under special conditions, to citizens of the Republic of Serbia, elementary school pupils from Kosovo without valid travel documents, in time period from June 25 to July 2, for a study trip – excursion.
It is about 461 pupils divided in two groups, arriving in an organised manner, who will be accommodated with local communities in Republika Srpska during their seven-day stay.
The visit organiser, Banja Luka-based Humanitarian Association “Committee for Assistance to Kosovo and Metohija” and pupils alike, are due to comply to recommendations and orders issued by epidemiological and health services. (end)