Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 69th Session

DECREASE OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES IN INDIRECT TAXATION PROCEDURE 

Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Amendments of Tariff of Administrative Fees in indirect taxation procedure.

Under the Decision, made upon a proposal by the Indirect Taxation Administration, the decrease or annulment of certain fees is in place due to introduction of a new computerised transit system (NCTS) at national level and for the needs of preparation of accession by Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Common Transition Procedure (CTC Convention) and Convention on Simplification of formalities in goods exchange (JCI Convention).

Also, the provision should be terminologically adjusted to the Law on Customs Policy of BIH, which is in application starting on Aug. 1, 2022.  Earlier adopted Reform Agenda of BIH provides for optimisation of administrative fees and taxes.

The decision is estimated to bring a decrease of revenues in BIH Budget for about KM 6, 029,000  annually.

CoM BIH SUPPORTS CONCLUSION OF CEFTA ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL ON DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled report on negotiations for conclusion of an Additional Protocol 7 on dispute resolution, attached to an Agreement on Amendment and Accession to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFATA 2006), thus implementing one among conclusions from a special meeting of CEFTA Joint Board of Oct. 9, 2024 in Belgrade.

The Proposal Additional Protocol 7 on dispute resolution attached to the Agreement on Amendment and Accession to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA 2006) will be forwarded to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will be the BIH signatory thereof.

The aim of the Additional Protocol is the promotion of dispute resolution system among CEFTA members and improved protection of countries’ legitimate trade interests.

TO IMPLEMET ALL GRECO RECCOMMENTDATIONS AS PRIORITY

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted several pieces of information on adoption of a Report on Harmonisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with GRECO Recommendations within the Fifth cycle of evaluation and third provisional report on harmonisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with GRECO recommendations within the Fourth cycle of evaluation, to be posted at the Ministry of Security web site.

The GRECO Report within the Fifth cycle was devoted to topics of corruption prevention and promotion of integrity with central authorities (highest executive functions) and law enforcement agencies.

Also, in the Fourth cycle of evaluation, concerning corruption prevention referring to Parliament members, judges and prosecutors, GRECO noted a slight advancement of BIH, in its Third report, after three recommendations fully and 11 partially adopted, while one remained unimplemented.

MINIMUM CASH AMOUNT FOR FOREIGNERS ENTERING BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on a minimum amount of funds needed by a foreigner for support during his/her intended stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2025.

The minimum amount of funds a foreigner has to have at his/her disposal on entering Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025 is KM 150 or counter value in foreign convertible currency; it is the same amount in prevous years.

CoM BIH INCERASED NUMBER OF PIECES OF INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC

The session adopted several conclusions highlighting the importance of a transparent and effective management of data at disposal to Institutions of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the aim of executing its legally prescribed authorities and keeping its obligation of maintaining public confidence.

The Council of Ministers Secretariat-General proposed appropriate conclusions for the purpose of improvement of proactive transparency, taking regard of frequency of posing Deputies’ or Delegates’ questions where same or similar pieces of information are continuously sought.

In that regard, Institutions of the Council of Ministers of BIH should up-date at least annually their official web sites with data on engaged individuals in status of appointed persons, civil servants and employees, including data on concluded fix-term employment contracts, describing relevant posts without personal data. The obligation of publishing and regular up-dating includes data on individuals engaged through a work contract in a way that the data present relevant assignments under the work contract and contract value.

All institutions of the Council of Ministers of BIH should post on their official web sites aggregate statistics of gender representation of employees at institution level and data on resources spent for entertainment costs, showing a monthly aggregate of institution’s spending, and total number of vehicles and special purpose vehicles  possessed by institution, and similar pieces of information, and they should up-date regularly pieces of information published at least annually.

The Council of Ministers Secretariat-General will pass the conclusion to the Parliametnarain Assembly of BIH, with an invitation to both Chambers of the Parliamentarian Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina to brief Delegates and Representatives on the conclusions adopted today.

BIH FULLFILS REPORTING OBLIGATION TO CE COMMITTEE OF SOCIAL RIGHTS

Today’s session adopted in a new text a Piece of Information by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on implementation of a Revised European Social Charter in Bosnia and Herzegovina per Group I – Rights, with Attachment 1 - BIH Institutions’ response to inquiries by the Council of Europe Committee of Social Rights on implementation of Group I Rights under Revised European Social Charter.

The piece of information will be provided to the Strasbourg-based CoE Committee of Social Rights via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Employers’ Associations and Trade Unions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The piece of information was drafted in cooperation  with responsible institutions in BIH and it answers to targeted questions for year 2024 in different areas of labour, including rights to just work conditions, just reimbursement, trade union organisations, collective bargaining, and equal employment possibilities for men and women.

PIECE OF INFORMATION ON BIH PARTICIPATION IN EU4HEALTH IN 2024

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information from the Ministry of Civil Affairs on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eu4Health Programme for 2024, signed last July and ratified last December.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH will, in cooperation with responsible institutions of BIH, continue to coordinate and follow activities as to participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU4Health Programme and on strengthening of capacities of prospective applicants for use of financial resources available through the Programme.

According to the piece of information, Entity, Brčko District of BIH, and Cantonal contact pointes were established for the EU4Heath Programme to work on the Programme promotion and its outreach, and report on its effectiveness, together with the Ministry of Civil Affairs contact point  The Ministry of Civil Affairs initiated establishment of a Coordination Desk for the EU4Helth Programme relevant to expert training and support to potential candidates for development of applications for joining the Programme.

Numerous activities were implemented in the course of 2024, to the end of informing wider public and health stakeholders in BIH on the EU4Health Programme and financial possibilities available from the Programme.

CEFTA MARKET

The Council of Ministers adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled report from Oct 9, 2024 Special Meeting of CETA Joint Committee, held in Belgrade, resulting in 10 decisions and one recommendation were adopted.

CEFTA Decisions and recommendation will be forwarded to institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so that, they would, in line with their constitutional responsibilities, create preconditions, through cooperation and coordination, for implementation and relevant actions.

It is about decisions implementation relevant for facilitation of e-trade, improvement of package delivery services, prevention of unjustifiable geo-blocking, trade aspects of intellectual property related rights, facilitation of trade with services offered by touristic agencies and tour operators, setting-up electronic system to facilitate in goods exchange risk management, recognition of AEOS programme, amendment of a decision on CEFTA bodies establishment, as well as amendment of a Decision to set-up Sub-Committee for Tadae of Investments, in addition to a recommendation referring to facilitation of mandatory insurance from self-responsibility within CEFAT countries.

The Decision implementation will strengthen regional cooperation in the process of fulfilling obligation stemming from the CEFA Agreement Additional Protocols and Action Plan for Common Regional Market, pursuant to rules and practices of the European Union, for the aim of approaching CEFTA market to the Single EU Market.

CONSIDERED REQUEST FOR INITIATING VOTE ON RECOSNTRUCTION OF CoM BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a Request for initiation of voting for reconstruction of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, tabled by the Parliametnarain Assembly of BIH House of Representatives’ Elemdign Konaković, signed by 11 representatives of the Chamber. (end)

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