Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds its 56th Session
10/26/2022
The Council of Ministers of BIH, adopted unanimously the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed Strategy of Legal Protection of Interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina as to Disposing of Radioactive Waste and Depleted Nuclear Fuel at the Trgovska Gora Site.
A support to the Strategy adoption, provided by a Legal Team formed under an earlier Council of Ministers’ decision, was accompanied by endorsement by the Governments of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BIH, including by the State Regulatory Agency for Radiation ad Nuclear Safety.
The Strategy provides the BIH Institutions with a document containing legal arguments and mechanisms in an attempt to prevent disposal of radioactive waste and depleted nuclear fuel in the Čerkezovac military barracks at the border with BIH, and thereby prevent catastrophic consequences to life and health of about 250.000 citizens of BIH.
The Strategy contains an overall legal analysis in the context of national and international legal framework, which supplies a legal background for a conclusion that the Republic of Croatia has, through its activities taken thus far, breached, among other things, the Espo Convention and 2003 SEA Protocol in addition to 1998 Arhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in relation to natural environment issues.
Also, seven conclusions were taken to provide to responsible BIH Institutions guidelines for planning, defining and implementation of further activities, including legal remedies and stepped-up engagement of BIH diplomacy.
COOPERATION WITH EUROPOL
The Council of Ministers granted its consent to a Proposal Regulation on Activities and Operative Cooperation of National/Common Contact Point for Bosnia and Herzegovina for cooperation with EUROPOL, with a view at strengthening of relevant cooperation with the EU, within the accession process.
This is for the implementation of an earlier concluded Agreement on Operative and Strategic Cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Office of European Police – EUROPOL.
The Regulation defines the manner of work, obligations and responsibilities of the common contact point for Bosnia and Herzegovina with EUROPOL, situated within the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to other procedures relevant for the establishing the cooperation system and exchange of information between responsible law enforcement bodies in BIH and EUROPOL
The session took several conclusion to enable better cooperation in the area.
CONTINUED COOPERATION WITH WHO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal for conclusion of a Biannual Cooperation Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the of the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe for 2022-2023, to be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Civil Affairs was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
Earlier, affirmative opinions were obtained from the Ministries of Health of the Federation of BIH and Cantons, Republika Srpska and the Brčko District Health Authority.
The conclusion of the Agreement is intended to contribute to issue solving in the area of public health protection and improvement of health status of population in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Biannual Agreement is a practical cooperation framework of BIH health authorities and the WHO Regional Office Secretariat, for the purpose of achieving aims under 2019-2023 Thirteen General Programme, 2021-2025 European Activity Programme: “Joint Action for Improved Health in Europe”, 2021-2025 Road Map for Health and Well-Being in the Western Balkans, in addition to health policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
From the BIH perspective, priorities are moving towards universal health coverage, protection in health emergency situations and promotion of health and wellbeing.
In accordance with the Biannual Agreement, the total budget for BIH is USD 581,000, and competent BIH health institutions and the WHO Secretariat committed themselves jointly to cooperation, so as to mobilise funds required for the realisation thereof.
The conclusion of the Biannual Agreement will not cause a need for additional finances from the BIH Institutions budget.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN BY 2027
The Council of Ministers took several decisions supplementing a Decision on adoption of Public Administration Reform in Bosna and Herzegovina Strategic Framework 2018-2027 and Decision on adoption of an Action Plan for public administration reform, after received the Public Administration Reform Coordinator ‘s notification on prolongation of the effectiveness time threof.
So, 2018-2022 Public Administration Reform Strategic Framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being extended to 2027, together with several deadlines to be extended accordingly.
Also, validity of the Action Plan for Public Administration reform is to be prolonged, including deadlines for realisation of individual activities.
The decisions take effect as of the day of their adoption and will be published in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.
This allows a continued implementation of planned measures and activities in the public administration reform, after the European Commission recognised, in its 2021 report for BIH, certain improvement referring to adoption of the Public Administration Reform Action Plan, simultaneously noting challenges to its implementation.
ADJUSTEMT PLAN TO CLIMATE CHANGES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Adjustment Plan to Climate Changes in BIH (NAP), accompanied with Proposal Measures, all for the aim of achieving the Paris Agreement aims and Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030.
Earlier, the NAP was supported by the Government of Republika Srpska and competent institutions of the Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BIH.
It is a comprehensive document drafted primarily by domestic experts in direct coordination with competent Entity and the Brčko District institutions, with support of the Green Climate Fund, to the end of preparation for an adequate reaction to climate changes, improved understanding related vulnerabilities, and increased resilience and further capacity building to tackle with climate changes.
The 570-page Plan contains an analysis of a regulatory framework and technical studies, climate change trends, review of climate impact by sectors, and proposals of short-to-mid-to-long term measures by the most affected sectors, including agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and forestry, and human health and tourism. The NAP ultimate goal is to reduce catastrophic effects of climate change to the most affected sectors and population, for the aim of protection of life and health.
Droughts and extreme droughts, extreme floods and heat waves, with extreme prolongation of time with hails and windstorms marked the last decade, the plan indicates, and adds that climate analyses thus far have showed major changes detected in Southern, Northern, and North-Western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
SUPORT TO ECONOMY PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Council of Ministries took a Decision on Criteria and Distribution of Current Grants, approved to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for promotion and development of BIH economy.
The total value of the grant is KM 750.000, of which KM 400.000 is intended for support to fair and other events and in-country activities directed at the promotion and development of economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while KM 350.000 is intended for support to fair and other events and activities abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will publish a public call to organisers of fair and their events and activities in country, at the Ministry’s web site and in three daily papers distributed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The decision prescribes procedures and other relevant issues for allocation of the non-refundable resources, including conditions, criteria, competences and operation procedure for a relevant committee, in addition to final decision taking on selection of grant funds beneficiaries and reporting obligation on intended funds spending.
BIH IN 2021-2027 INTERREG VI-B IPA ADRION PROGRAMME
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on a Territorial Cooperation Programme INTERREG VI-B IPA ADRION 2021-2027, in connection to signing of a letter of consent, ahead of submitting the Programme to the European Commission for approval.
The Director of the Directorate for European Integrations was authorised to sign the letter of consent for the Programme.
The Directorate for European Integrations is in charge to provide a piece of information to the Council of Ministers by its first next session, on steps taken as to forming the structures for use of IPA, with proposal concrete measures to solve the matter.
The European Territorial Cooperation Programme, active at a transnational level, follows-up earlier ADRION Programme (2014-2020), and is implemented in 10 countries: Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, Italy, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is now extended to North Macedonia and San Marino.
The total value of the Programme s EUR 160,810,017.65, of which the EU contribution is EUR 136,688,515, while the remaining 15 % will be secured by the Programme beneficiaries.
BIH AND EU CONITNUE TALKS ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on holding of the 6th meeting of a Special Group for Public Administration Reform between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with some additions made at the session.
The Directorate for European Integrations is responsible to implement, in cooperation with competent BIH institutions and responsible European Commission services, all necessary activities for holding of the 6th meeting of the Special Group, to be held via video-link in time to be agreed.
A part of this piece of information is a discussion document and list of BIH delegation, to be headed in a part for high political dialogue, by Minister of Justice Josip Grubeša, who will be at disposal to media for any questions as to the meeting.
BIH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 2022 WORK PROGRAMME
The session adopted the Council of Ministers of BIH Work Programme for 2022, to be provided by the Secretariat-General to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for information.
The Annual Work Programme of the Council of Ministers of BIH includes an Action Plan for realisation, review of laws and other regulations, international treaties, development-investment projects/programmes, as well as a table of materials on which the Council of Ministers will notified (reports, informative analyses).
PIECE OF INFORMATION OF ‘SMALL SCHENEG’ INITIATIVE
The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to adopt the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled piece of information on analysis of interests and benefits for Bosnia and Herzegovina in case of accession to a ‘small Schengen’ Initiative, i.e. “Open Balkans”.
TO SYMPLIFY PLANNING AND REPORTING SYSTEM
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Justice-proposed decision on annual planning of operations monitoring and reporting in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with some corrections made at the session.
The decisions aims at improvement and simplification of monitoring and reporting annual planning system, in order to improve effectiveness, policies development, and defining of priorities and work dynamics of the Council of Ministers and other BIH institutions.
NATURAL SCIENCE FACULTY OF SRAJEVO UNIVERSITY EXEMPTED FORM FEES
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed decision on exempting the University of Sarajevo Natural Science Faculty from paying a fee for use of the radio-frequency spectrum in BIH in time period from 2022 to 2026.
Thus, the Council of Ministers supports the improvement of rights of use of radiofrequencies in limited duration projects, realised through domestic science-research institutions and implemented for the purpose of training, testing and realisation of scientific and research projects in the area of ITC technologies in BIH.
GREEN LIGHT FOR SETTING-UP SYSTEM FOR DATA EXCHANGE ON PASSENGERS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision to form a Cross-Agency Work Group to set-up a system for passengers data exchange, in accordance with the current integrated border management strategy and accompanying action plans for its implementation.
Setting-up of a system for exchange of passenger data (API/PNR) will contribute to realisation of one among important measures in the process of obtaining candidate status for BIH membership in the EU from the “Border Management” chapter.
The Work Group is tasked to make an estimate, by December 31,2022, as to the existing legal framework, define aims and project volume of setting-up API/PRN system, and draft a proposal solution for the activity, to include legislative, technical, personnel and financial aspect, and send it to the Council of Ministers.
APPROVED USE OF SDH NETWORK FOR LINKING WITH POLCE AGENCIES
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on approving the use of SDH network, run by the Agency for Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange of BIH, to the Agency for Training and Staff Professional Up-Grading.
In accordance with the Decision, the Agency for Training and Professional Staff Up-Grading will use the SDH network to establish a distant learning system and video-conference system with police bodies of BIH, State Investigation and Protection Agency, Border Police of BIH, and Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies.
The Decision takes effect as at the adoption thereof, and will be published in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.
PIECE OF INFORMATION ON LEGISLATION CONCERNING GMO
The session adopted a piece of information on the status of legislation relevant to genetically modified organisms, GMO, and a need was stressed for harmonisation of the existing relevant valid BIH laws with new GMO-related regulations of in the European Union.
The Agency for Food Safety of BIH is tasked to prepare a proposal decision on a Cross-Sector Work Group for development of a new GMO Law and provide it to the Council of Ministers of BIH for consideration and adoption.
PROGRESS IN MEETING OF PROACTIVE TRANSPARENCY STANDARDS IN CoMBIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information from the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office on the third on-line research on application of proactive transparency policy and standards, and took several conclusions towards increasing transparency level in state-level institutions.
The third on-line research by the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office on implementation of policy and standards of proactive transparency, earlier adopted by the Council of Ministers session, included 81 institutions at state level, among which there 62 institutions responded to 38 questions from a questionnaire. The research was conducted in February and Mach. 2021.
The research results showed the average fulfilment of standards of proactive transparency of 67.57%, which is an improvement in relation to 2016 public institutions web sites analysis, conducted by the ‘Analitika’ Centre for Social Research, when the average transparency level (68 institutions sample) was 34.8%.
The research covered questions sets as to data availability at web sites of institutions and bodies of the Council of Ministers of BIH, including strategic, operative, financial and public procurement information, along with anti-corruption data, free access to information and other data of public relevance.
RULEBOOK ON ASYLUM CENTRE OPERATION STANDARDS
The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Security-proposed Rulebook on Asylum Centres Operation Standards and on other issues relevant for operation of a Centre for Reception and Accommodation of Asylum Seekers.
The Rulebook defines standards in relation to reception and stay of asylum seekers with the Asylum Centre, using, as the starting point, EU standards and best practice of operation of asylum centres in Europe and immediate surrounding.
REPORT ON CYBER ATTACK ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, at the closed part of the session, a report on security issues caused by a cyberattack to IKT of the Service for maintenance and development of electronic operations and “”e-Government of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina. (end)