Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 6th Extraordinary Session

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, with seven votes for and three negative, a Draft Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Year 2020, which will be provided by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to the BIH Presidency, responsible for proposing it. 

The total revenues, receivables and funding of the BIH Institutions in year 2020 are KM 996,000,000, equalling the expenditures level. The foreign debt servicing accounts for KM 807,552,932, and is less for about KM 18.2 million relative to the last year.

 

The Council of Ministers took, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury a Decision on Temporary Financing of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of BIH for April-June 2020.

Under the Decision, the temporary financing of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina is approved for the second quarter of 2020 in amount of KM 241,500,000, which is one fourth of the funds approved for financing of institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of BIH for year 2019.

 

The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on Temporary Closing of International Border Crossings in Air traffic for Passenger Travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Under the Decision, border crossings at airports are to be closed for passengers, with open border crossings for cargo transport only. The decision takes effect on March 30, at 6.00 hrs.

 

The Council of Ministers fo BH took a Decision on temporary Suspension of Visa Issuing in Diplomatic-Consular Offices of Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Due to extraordinary circumstances, caused by COVID-19 in BIH, a temporary suspension of visa (C and D) issuance is in effect in all BIH diplomatic-consular offices in the world.

The exception are visas that may be issues in particularly justifiable cases, when it is of interest for protection of security of BIH, public order, public peace and order, public health and other reasons stemming from international obligations of BIH. In such cases, visa my be issued exclusively with prior written consent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

The Council of Ministers took a Decision on Supplement to the Decision on Conditions for Entry of Foreigners to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an accepted correction by the Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which refers to “foreigners holding a special approval for entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina, for stay of transit though Bosnia and Herzegovina, issued by the Council of Ministers of BIH”.

The Minister of Security of BIH is responsible to discuss with the relevant sector Minister of the Republic of Croatia on temporary closing of smaller border crossings.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on defining border crossings for goods transport in road traffic in transit through Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

The Decision defines border crossings between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro for transport of goods in transit and communications by which cargo motor vehicles registered in other states are allowed to transit through BI, as a measure of prevention and containing of the contagious disease caused by new corona virus (COVID-19).

 

The border crossings for transit traffic though BIH with the Republic of Croatia are Biijača - Nova Sela; Gradiška - Nova Gradiška; and Šamac - Slavonski Šamac, with the Republic of Serbia it is Rača – Sremska Rača, and with Montenegro it is Klobuk – Ilino Brdo.

 

The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on exemption from paying indirect taxes and on returns of already paid indirect taxed on equipment and resources granted by both domestic and international entities for the needs of prevention, containing and termination of the epidemics caused by corona virus (COVID-19).

 

These are face masks, gloves, disinfection means, and protection suits for medical staff, respirators and other necessary equipment in fight against the corona virus.

 

The Council of Ministers took note of  a piece of information by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on regional measures for facilitating sales of vitally important products due to the crisis caused by the corona virus.

 

These measures will enable smoother sales among CEFTA parties, and they were drafted upon a proposal the CEFTA Secretariat, Regional Cooperation Council, Transport Community, DG NEAR and DG TAXUD.

 

These institutions recommended CEFTA member-countries to draft a list of introduced trade measures, list basic products relevant for citizens, as well as a list of border crossings open for cargo transport. The listed products will be treated at defined border crossings between CEFTA countries through the so-called green priority lane, which would enable easier transport of goods in the newly-developed situation due to the corona virus epidemics.

 

A list of relevant products for citizens, drew-up by relevant institutions in BIH will be treated through the so-called green priority lane in transport at certain border crossings between CEFTA countries, and it was provided to the CEFTA Secretariat via the Ministry fo Foreign Trade and Economic Relations contact point.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will report periodically on regional measures adopted due to the corona virus caused crisis.

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