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

EU EAMARKS EUR 70 MIILLION FOR BIH THROUGH ENERGY SUPPORT PACKAGE 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on financing Annual Action Plan attached to the Western Balkans Energy Support Package in favour of Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2023 between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers Directorate for European Integrations.

It is a support package, worth EUR 70 million, filly financed by the European Union, intended to mitigate socio-economic consequences of energy crisis which caused a growth of energy prices, as well as to support sustainable economy based on law carbon emissions and resistance to climate change.

This is to support the most vulnerable households in BIH in facing the growing energy prices, and secure financial support for energy transition, and also assist to micro, small and medium sized enterprises faced with energy crisis challenges.

The term of the finance agreement is eight years, while the term of its operative implementation is two years from its taking effect.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH will provide the Proposal Agreement with Platform for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency for further adoption procedure, and the Director of the Directorate for European Integrations will be the BIH signatory thereof.

ACCESION TO THE EU PROGRAME “JUDICIARY 2021-2027”

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on a proposal for a launch of  procedure of accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union Programme “Judiciary 2021-2027”, and tasked the Ministry of Justice to send a letter of interest to the competent General Directorate of the European Commission for accession to the Programme.

The accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Programme would enable improvement and acceleration of key reforms in the justice sector in BIH, which would create conditions for an accelerated European integrations process. Also, a new possibility of improvement of judicial cooperation would be open with other competent institutions from BIH and EU countries.

The Ministry of Justice is in charge for implementation of the programme, and is tasked for coordination and cooperation with other competent institutions, namely the Entity and Brčko District of BIH contact points.

The Ministry of Justice should also, plan financial resources, in cooperation with the Directorate for European Integrations, from the pre-accession funds, for BIH participation in the EU Programme “Judiciary 2021-2027”.

AMENDED DECISION ON HARMOSIATION OF BIH LEGISLATION WITH ACQUIS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Directorate for European Integrations-proposed decision on amendments and supplements to the Decision on process of harmonisation of BIH legislation with the European Union acquis.

The aim of the Decision is to advance the process of harmonisation of legislation and its adjustment to the level of EU integrations, after BIH got the candidate status.

This is to enable more transparency of the legislation harmonisation process and public awareness rising, and further harmonisation with amendments and supplements to Single Rules for Development of Legal Regulations in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CONSULTTIONS ON LAWS

The Council of Ministers of BIH will consider subsequently proposals law on amendments and supplements to the Law on High Court and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on concluding and executing international treaties, and on foreign affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Political consultations will be made meantime, so that the Council of Ministers session might unanimously define proposals law, and thus enable the adoption thereof at the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

BIH AND EGYPT ARRANGE ISUSES OF COOPERATION IN TOURISM

The session defined a Proposal for conclusion of a Memorandum on Understanding on Cooperation in Tourism between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The Memorandum plans a serious of activities to be implemented for the increase of touristic traffic and facilitation of travel arrangements of the two countries. The activities include inciting both countries’ touristic agencies to organise touristic programmes, to co-organise seminars, fairs, festivals, exhibitions, exchange of information and tourism experts, and to consider possibilities for further cooperation in investments to tourism sector.

A joint work group will be formed for implementation of the Memorandum. The proposal for conclusion of the Memorandum  on Understanding on Cooperation in Tourism between the Council of Ministers and Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH will be proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.

TO FACILITATE FLOW OF PASSENGERS NAD SERVICES IN INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAIFFIC

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision to set-up a facility programme in civil air traffic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would facilitate international public air transport in BIH and accelerate the flow of passengers, cargo, goods and postal packages.

The decision would enable relevant institutions to get harmonised with international standards, incorporated into BIH legislation by way of laws and by-laws.

It also enables an effective coordination among the institutions in the facility system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as state bodies, organisations, legal persons, airport operators, air transport operators and other entities participating in its implementation.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM STRATEGY

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice-piece of information on development of a Draft Strategy for Reform of Justice Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its action plan and implementation indicator.

The piece of information is followed by a set of conclusions intended for strengthening of communications and cooperation with competent Entity Ministries, in order to continue activities on drafting the Strategy and reactivate a work group tasked for its development, which is in a delay from 2021.

The state-level Ministry of Justice is expected to send in early June the Proposal Strategy and its belonging action plan to the Council of Ministers of BIH, Federal Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska, Judicial Committee of the Brčko District of BIH, for the aim of its adoption at sessions of the Council of Ministers of BIH, Governments of the Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska, and Judicial Committee of the Brčko of District of BIH.

REPORT BY BIH ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ON ARBITRAGE PROCESS

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Attorney’s Office of BIH on a launched arbitration process of claimant Pramod Mittal and other against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with arbitration rules of the Committee of the United Nations for International Trade Law (UNICITRAL rules).

The Council of Ministers of BIH invited Governments of the Federation of BIH and Tuzla Canton to get included immediately and take needed activities together with BIH Attorneys’ Office for the reason of protection of legal and financial interest.

The BIH Attorney’s Office is authorised and tasked to prepare a proposal agreement on mutual rights and obligations, like earlier signed-to agreements concerning arbitrage processes, and provide tit to the Governments of the Federation of BIH and Tuzla Canton for signing, with prior consent of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

The Attorney’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina took a needed actions in this phase of process to maximally protect property and property interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including earlier information sharing to the Governments of the Federation of BIH and Tuzla Canton.

It is about an arbitrage dispute, launched by claimants Pramod Mittal, Sangeeta Mittal, Vartika Mittal, Shisti Mittal and Diyyesg Mittal against claimed Bosnia and Herzegovina, as to investment by claimant to Global Ispat Cox Industry, Ltd. Lukavac, and actions by competent authorities of the Tuzla Canton, for which claimants hold to be in contrary to provisions of the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of India on Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments.

In the mentioned note, claimants failed to quote the value of compensation request against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its definition was rather left for the continuation of the process.

CONSENT OT APPOINTEMENT

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a consent was granted for appointment of a captain of war ship Zbigniew Romanowski to the post of military, marine and aviation attaché of the Republic of Poland for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with is seat in Zagreb. (end)