Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 57th Session
07/31/2024
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Decision on ratification of an International Agreement of the European Union, on one side, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the other side, on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in 2021-2027 EU Digital Europe Programme, singed by Minister of Communications and Transport Edin Forto, on June 4, 2024.
Joining the programme enables Bosnia and Herzegovina to access EU strategic funds, relevant for to facing global digital challenges.
Focusing at areas such super-computing, artificial intelligence, advanced digital skills and wider application of digital technologies, the Programme allows BIH legal persons an equal applying as with entities of European Union member-countries for grant allocation form EU funds to finance digitalisation projects. This will certainly accelerate economic development and digital transformation of BIH society and economy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the proposal decision to the BIH Presidency for further ratification procedure.
CoMBIH AND LITHUANIAN GOVERNMENT: TO IMPROVE BIH-EU READMISSION AGREEMETN IMPLEMENTATION
The Council of Ministers adopted a Protocol between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Lithuania on Implementation of Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Community on Readmission of Illegally Staying Nationals, with a Report on procedures for its conclusion.
This way, the two countries boost their cooperation in the area of security, focused at securing pubic order and suppression of crime in the aera of migrations, thus creating conditions for an successful implementation of the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and European Community on Readmission of Illegally Staying Nationals.
The negotiations report, together with the text Protocol will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further decision-taking procedure, with a proposition for the Minister of Security for the BIH signatory thereof.
EXTENDED FUDNS WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Amendment No.1 to a Finance Contract (Water Pipeline and Sewage in Republika Srpska IL), concluded between Bosnia and Herzegovina – Republika Srpska and the European Investment Bank, on Dec. 17, 2019 in Sarajevo and Dec. 20 2019 in Banja Luka – operation No. (SERAPIS No*):2018—0281; contract No. (FIN*)90.345).
The Amendment extends a deadline for funds withdrawal under the credit, from earlier agreed Dec.20, 2024 to dec 31, 2027, while the ultimate project implementation deadline is June 30, 2028.
The Proposal Amendment with Basics for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury will be the BIH signatory.
LABOURT MARKET POLICY GUIDELINES PLAN
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to adopt a Labour Market Policies Guidelines Plan and Active Employment Measures in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2024, aiming a planned regulation of operations by competent institutions.
The Plan holds priority aims and guidelines of labour market policies, including active employment measures. Institutions responsible for the decision implementation are: the BIH Agency for Labour and Employment, Federal Employment Bureau, Republika Srpska Employment Bureau, and Employment Institute of the Brčko District of BIH, together with other responsible institutions, i.e. relevant services.
Among numerous activities towards a decrease of unemployment level in BIH, there are fast and effective realisation of tasks for fulfilment of rights of the unemployed, timely payment of material benefits, improvement of programmes/direction of active employment policy for a faster integration of the unemployed to labour market, including measures taking for labour market trends improvement.
LESS AREAS UNDER MINES IN BIH BY END OF YEAR
The session adopted 2024 Demining Plan in Bosnia and Herzegovina and tasked the Demining Committee and Mine Action Centre to provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH, within 60-yday deadline, a comprehensive plan of activities, planned budget and deadlines, and precise dynamics of demining process of suspected areas under mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to relevant estimations, suspected dangerous areas under mines in Bosnia and Herzegovina were 838 square km in 2024, or 1.63% of total surface of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it should be decreased in 2024 for 145,40 square meters, as planned under the Demining Plan, to reach 692,60 square km.
GENDER EQUALITY: FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS RECOGNISED IN TEXT OATH
For an aim of achieving gender equality in police agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the session adopted an instruction on Supplement to the Instruction on Bosnia and Herzegovina Police Officers Oath Taking and Text Oath, proposed by the Ministry of Security.
This way, an initiative from the “Female Police Officers Network” Association was endorsed, and the police officers text oath should be amended by introducing gender sensitive language, so that female police officers would be recognised and visible on admission and inceptive phase of work, as well as during the rest of engagement in a police body.
“DENIS MRNJAVAC”: PUPIL CASH AWARD INTRODUCED
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees-proposed decision amending the Decision Establishing “Denis Mrnjavac” Award for promotion of tolerance and non-violence, thereby introducing a cash award in amount of KM 1,500 for each pupil. Earlier, the Council of Ministers had established the “Denis Mrnjavac” Award as an annual recognition for promotion of tolerance, humane and non-violent behaviour. The award is to be presented to a secondary school pupil from each the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and Brčko District of BIH, who contributed to the promotion of human rights, tolerance and mutual respect and non-violence among youth. The award is to be presented in form of a sculpture, special recognition – plaque, and special recognition for the school attended by the awarded pupil, while the introduced cash award should motivate pupils additionally for achieving more in this area.
2023 MIGRATION PROFILE ADOPTED
The Ministry of Security-tabled 2023 Bosnia and Herzegovina Migration Profile was adopted, in a new text, which is a part of obligations fulfilment from the Road Map for Visa Liberalisation, concerning its regular up-dating and providing of an insight into key migration trends.
The Migration Profile indicates that BIH Consular-Diplomatic Offices issued 21,261 visas, compared with 22,765 in 2022, and the number of visas issued at BIH border was 18 in 2023 and 27 in 2022.
The BIH Border Police refused last year 2,160 entries to BIH, less for 15% than in 2002, when 2,549 refusals were registered.
The number of detected illegal border crossings in 2023 was 13,643 (6,110 illegal entries to and 7,533 illegal exits from BIH), which is a 4.65% decrease relative to 2022.
Foreigners were approved 13,481 temporary stays in BIH in 2023, and the number was 11,188 in 2022, with 446 permanent stays approved, while there were 390 in 2022.
The number of cancelled non-visa or temporary stays was increased - last year it was 882 - and in the year ago it was 514.
The number of decisions on expulsion was increased for 57.63%, there were 2,582 last year and 1,638 in year before. There were 28 cancelled non-visa or temporary stays with an expulsion measure, which is more than 86% relative to 2022, registering 15 decisions.
Pursuant to readmission agreements, 402 BIH citizens were admitted last year, and in accordance with the Readmission Agreement with the Republic of Croatia, 4,264 citizens of the third countries were admitted under a procedure led by the BIH Foreigners’ Affairs Service, which is an increase for 410% relative to the year ago, when the number was 836.
CHIEF ATTORNEY’S OFFICE PROPOSAL ON “VIADUCT” FILE REJECED
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to adopt a proposal, due to no consensus in the second round of vote, by the BIH Chief Attorney’s Office for solution of a concrete legal issue concerning the execution of ICSID Tribunal award in case Viaduct, Ltd Portorož, Vladimir Zevnik and Boris Goljevšček, represented by the Baroš, Bičakčić and Others Law Office against Bosnia and Herzegovina (ICSID Case No.ARB/16/36) of April 18, 2022.
No proposal was, therefore adopted for undertaking activities for abating detrimental consequences to Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions Budget, stemmed from the ICSID Tribunal award in the case.
BIH DEMINIGN COMMISSION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Civil Affairs-proposed decision on appointment of members of the Demining Commission of BIH, so that further demining activities in our country would be enabled, since the previous members’ mandate expired on July 28, 2024.
The new members of the Commission appointed for a two-year term are Ivana Lestko, Ognjen Zekić, and Emir Grebovć.
NO DECISION ON USING THIRD RESERVE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled piece of information on distribution and use od current reserve funds for QI-III 2024, to be passed to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for further procedure.
There was no decision in 2024 Q I either by the Council of Ministers or Presidency of BIH to approve the third reserve, so that the planned amount of KM 2,297,250 for the relevant time period was unused.
The total amount at the current reserves item is KM 9,189,000, of which KM 2,297,250 or one fourth is for the Q I.
CONSENT TO APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT US ENVOY IN BIH
A consent was granted for appointment of Major John J. Olivere to the post of Assistant Envoy of the United States of America in Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF GALIĆ SENT TO PARLIAMENTARIAN ASSEMBLY INDEPENDED BOARD
The session considered a request by Deputy Manager of the State Investigation and Protection Agency for Zoran Galić for release from duty, upon his personal request, sent to the Council of Ministers of BIH via a law office, and sent it to the Parliamentarian Assembly Independent Board for an urgent consideration.
The Independent Board, which proposed Zoran Galić’s appointment, is requested to reflect on a legal procedure as to the filled request for release upon personal request, and to inform the Council of Ministers of BIH accordingly.
CONSENT TO RULEBOOK ON OFFICIAL VWEEHICLES FOR SPECIALIED PURPOSES
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for a Proposal Rulebook on conditions for procurement and use oof specialised official vehicles in the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which provides the procurement of specialised vehicles for a smooth operation of this police agency.
NO SUPPORT TO CNCLUSION ON REVISION OF AGREEMTN WITH SERBIA AN CROATIA
The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to support a conclusion of the Minister of foreign Affairs of BIH, requesting the Ministry of Security of BIH to initiate procedures of revision of agreements on police cooperation, earlier concluded with the Republic of Serbia and Republic of Croatia. (end)
Ling to photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720319235515