Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 5th Regular Session
05/21/2020
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on Supplements o the decision on prescribing additional measures for entry of foreigners to Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus enabling businessmen to enter BIH, as well as to families of deceased for the sake of attending related funerals, provided that certain conditions are met.
The decision allows the entry and stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina to foreigners arriving on business purposes, with a condition that he/she holds related invitation letter by legal person from Bosnia and Herzegovina engaging him/her in BIH, in addition to a certificate on negative test to SARS-COB-2 issued by authorise laboratory, not older than 48 hours.
Provisions on a ban of entry is not applicable to Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens holding dual citizenship, so they may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with personal ID card, issued by authorised body of Bosnia and Herzegovina, no matter the way of the entry to another state they return from.
Also, the stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina is allowed to foreigners, members of close family (spouse, parents, children, siblings) of a deceased person for the reason of attending its funeral, for 72 hours as at the entry to BIH, notwithstanding prospective isolation period of time, under condition of holding a proof on death and on relation to the deceased person.
The decision takes effect as at the day of adoption and is to be published in the “Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
EUR 20 MIL IBRD LOAN FOR IMMOVABLE PROPERTY REGISTRATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Additional Finance for Immovable Property Registration Project), worth EUR 20 million.
The funds will be allocated to Republika Srpska in amount of EUR 12,820,513.00, and to the Federation of BIH in amount of EUR 7,179,487.00. The loan term is 32 years with seven-year grace period.
It is about a follow-up of the Immovable Property Registration Project, in implementation based on 2013 Finance Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Development Association. The Project is directed at support to development of a sustainable immovable property registration system with harmonised land registry and cadastre records in both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.
The Proposal Agreement with Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
GREEN LIGHT FOR SARAJEVO CITY ROAD COMMUNICATIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Sarajevo City Road Communications), worth EUR 30 million.
The purpose of the Project is the improvement of key road network in the Sarajevo Canton, through financing of development and up-building of road infrastructure at the Fifth Transversal roads (Kobilja Glava tunnel) and Ninth Transversal, so to link the Sarajevo city with other parts of the Canton and regional road network. The aim is to decrease of current traffic jams jam and improve mobility in the region.
The funds will be allocated to the Federation of BIH, specifically to Sarajevo Canton, and the end of the Project is expected for the end of year 2022.
The Proposal Contract with the belonging Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
OVER EUR 1.9 GRANT FOR GRADAČAC WATER SUPPLY PROJECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal grant Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Gradačac Water Supply Project), which refers to an investment grant of EUR 1,995,599.00 from the European Joint Fund Programme for Western Balkans. The funds were allocated to het Federation of BIH – Gradačac Municipality, specifically to the “Komunalac” Gradačac Public Enterprise.
The aim of the Project is to assist the Municipality of Gradačac in expansion of the existing water supply pipeline. The rehabilitated water supply system will include communities in the Southern part of the Municipality numbering about 3,500 households, with the projected additional 150 households to be included.
The Project is financed through the EBRD EUR six million loan, earlier signed and with effective funds, further to an investment EUR 1.4 grant from the SIDA-EBRD Environment and Climate Change Fund, in addition to technical assistance by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in amount of EUR 600k, as well as today endorsed grant worth EUR 1,992,500.00 of the European Joint Fund for Western Balkans.
The Proposal Contract and Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
BIH AND MONTENEGRO IMPROVE THEIR BORDER AND BORDER AREA COOPERATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined four proposals annex to an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on implementation of border checks at joint border crossings.
These are joint sites at border crossing Vraćenovići-Deleuša in Vraćenovići (Montenegro); Šćepan Polje – Hum in Šćepan Polje (Montenegro), Zupci-Sitnica in Zupci (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Klobuk – Ilino Brdo in Klobuk (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
This will create conditions for a smoother crossing of the joint state border and will establish more effective border crossing control system for citizens of the two states.
The Ministry of Security of BIH will provide the several Proposals Annex accompanied by negotiation reports to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Security was proposed for the BIH signatory.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on Amendments and Supplements to an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on border crossings for border area traffic.
This will enable simpler crossing of the state border in the border area traffic regime with a border pass for local residents living in the 10 km-wide border zone along the joint state border.
The Proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, with a proposal for the Minister of Security as the BIH signatory.
BIH AND SERBIA STRENGHTEN BORDER-CROSSING COOPERATION
The session defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on border crossing traffic, for the purpose of facilitating movement of local population between the border areas and crossing of the joint border.
Also, economic education, health, social, cultural, sports and other kinds of cooperation are wanted to be improved, which will contribute to strengthening of mutual relations and cooperation of the two countries.
Under the Proposal Agreement, the border area is the area adjacent to the joint state border, stretching for 10km into the depth of territory from the joint border-crossing and it covers territories of municipalities at the border line, so it includes communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The crossing of the joint state border, if a valid border crossing pass is possessed, under conditions of the border area regime, is allowed to take place across the border crossings open for border area and international traffic, as earlier defined under the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia on Border Crossings.
The Proposal Agreement accompanied by negotiations report, will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Security was proposed for the BIH signatory.
CoM BIH SUPPORTS SAVA AND DRINA RIVERS’ CORRIDORS INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAME
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH for negotiations on conclusion of a Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (The Sava and Drina Rivers’ Corridor Integrated Development Programme, with the use of multi-phase programmatic approach).
The USD 33.7 million worth loan will be allocated to the Republika Srpska for the purpose of strengthening of cross-border cooperation in waters sector and improvement of navigability and flood protection at corridors of the Sava and Drina Rivers.
The loan term is 32 years maximum, including up-to seven-year grace period.
Following the negotiations, the Ministry of Finance and treasury will act in accordance with the law on Borrowing, Debt and Guarantees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
RATIFICATION OF AGREEMETNS AND CONTRACT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH, and will sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure ratifications of individual proposal decisions on ratification of four earlier signed agreements and a contract.
These are the following: Investment Grant Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank, Corridor V c . construction of Motorway sections Zenica North – Žepče South, sub-section4: Ponirak-Donja Gračanica, part I: Ponirak-Vraca (exit from Zenica tunnel); Agreement on cross-Border Cooperation Programme Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2018 among the European Commission, Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Agreement on Funding Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2018-2020 for 2018 among the European Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
It is also about an Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union amending the Finance Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union on “Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation programme of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro” for 2014-2020 within the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), a well as a Grant Contract (Plava Voda Regional Water Pipeline Project between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which refers to an Investment grant from SIDA to EBRD II Local Environment and Climate Programme.
REPORTS AND WORK PROGRAMMES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted severally work programmes for year 2020 from the following institutions: Ministry of Foreign trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Communications and Transport f Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; a band Legislative Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to adopt several work reports for 2019, and it will reflect on hem in the subsequent round of vote.
These are from the following institutions: Foreigners’ Affairs Service; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Archives of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Education and Staff Professional Training Agency; Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Air Space Management Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina; General Civil Service Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; General Affairs Service of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ombudsman Institution for Consumer Protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office; and Market Surveillance Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Work Reports for 2019 were adopted neither for the following institutions: Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Hercegovina; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Representative in the Joint Committee for Implementation Monitoring of Contract between the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on border-crossings; Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Independent System Operator in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ministry of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina;; Central Harmonisation Unit under the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Directorate for European Integrations; Intellectual Property Institute of BIH; Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education Agency; Civil Service Appellation Board of the Council of Ministers; Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Metrological Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Centre for Information and Recognition of High Education Documents; Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Committee for Destruction of Narcotics; Police Bodies Coordination Directorate; Police Support Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; State Investigations and Protection Agency; Legislative Office under the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Joint Committee for Implementation Monitoring of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Republic of Croatia Contract on Broder Crossings; Postal Traffic Agency with Budget Execution Report; Statistics Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; return Fund of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Centre for Information and Recognition of High Education Documents Steering Board; Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Competition Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina; State Committee for Cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with UNESCO; Consumer Protection Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Work Report of the Committee for Accounting and Audit of BIH for March 1, 2019-Febr. 29, 2020.
CoM INSTITUTIONS IN FULL OPERATION AS OF TODAY
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers to invalidate Decision on Procedures by Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions in relation to threat to life and health of employees caused by Corona-19 virus outbreak.
The reason for the decision is the alleviation of measures, in accordance with the current epidemiological situation in BIH concerning the corona virus.
The work process in the Council of Ministers of BIH from now on presumes the presence of all employees, as the earlier measure aiming decreased flow of people in institutions HQ is not in effect anymore. All the employees are obliged to adhere to protection measures in their work premises.
RESTORED REGULAR CARGO TRANSPORT BETWEEN BIH NAD CROATIA
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision annulling the Decision on defining border-crossings for transport of goods in road traffic in transit through Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Decision was taken after the regular regime of movement of cargo vehicles through the territory of the Republic of Croatia was restored on May 19, 2020 at 00.00 hrs. The cargo transport is practically possible at all cargo border-crossings, which will facilitate and alleviate the pressure at cargo border-crossings.
PUBLIC REFORM SPECIAL GROUP TO MEET WITH EC
The Council of Ministers adopted a piece of information from the Directorate for European Integrations on a proposal of the European Commission of a new framework of meetings and operations of the Public Administration Reform Special Group.
It contains the European Commission’s proposal of a new framework of meetings and operation of the Special Group, and draft agenda of the 4th meeting of the Public Administration Reform Special Group.
The Ministers of Justice and Finance and Treasury will take part at the meeting to which the line ministers from the Entities, cantons and the Brčko District were summoned. The meeting, scheduled for June 8 this year should discuss, among others, key challenges and priorities of the public administration.
BIH INSTITUTIONS’ PROPOSAL FOR REGULAR ANNUAL EC REPORT ON BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Proposal of BIH Institutions for a regular annual report on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European integrations process, from November 2019 and a piece of information by the Directorate for European Integrations on drafting an Attachment by BIH Institutions for regular annual report on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The session adopted Supplement Proposal by BIH Institutions for the regular annual report on Bosnia and Herzegovina within the European integrations process covering the time period from December 1m 2019 to February 7, 2020, with a report on its drafting.
The Council of Ministers adopted a report on implementation of an Action Plan for realisation of priorities from the November 2019 European Commission Analytical Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Attachment and Supplement Attachment provide a breakthrough of progress made in BIH until February 7 this year relative to economic criteria and European standards, and it was made based on reports provided by responsible all-level institutions to the Directorate for European Integrations. The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate for European Integrations will provide the documents to the European Commission.
PROCEDURE LAUNCHED FOR APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a Draft Decision on appointment of a Committee for Refugees and Displaced Persons of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to be sent by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees to the BIH Presidency, responsible for tis adoption.
The consent was granted for appointment of four out of nine Commission members, proposed by the Council of Ministers. Two members were proposed by each Government of Republika Srpska and Federation of BIH and one member was proposed by the Government of the Brčko District of BIH.
TRGOVSKA GORA COORDINATION BODY APPOINTED
The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economic Relations-proposed Decision on appointment of Coordination Body for the issue of storing radioactive waste and depleted nuclear fuel at the Trgovska Gora site.
The Coordination Body includes the following members: Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Saša Košarac; Minister for Spatial Planning, Civil Construction and Ecology in the Government of Republika Srpska Serbrenka Gooić; Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism Edita Đapo; and Director of the State Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina Marinko Zeljko.
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