Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 70th Session

CoM CONTINUES SUPPORT PROCUREMENT OF ELETRIC HYBRID VEHICLES, AND CNG VEHICLES FROM 2025 ON 

Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled decision on temporary suspension and temporary cut off of customs tariffs on import of new electric hybrids and CNG vehicles, by Dec. 31, 2025, pursuant to the Law on Customs Tariffs of BIH.

The Decision prolongs, by the end of 2025, annulment of customs for import of electric vehicles top BIH, and novelty is that the coverage of free of charge importation of CNG vehicles using natural gas, while decreased customs tariffs of 5% will continue to apply for import of hybrid vehicles.

It is about an import to BIH of newly produced vehicles without preferential status of goods from countries with which BIH has concluded free trade agreements.

The Council of Ministers offers concrete financial support to citizens and public sector for purchase and a mass import of this kind of vehicles, which is to contribute to pollution decrease and decarbonisation, which is one of key pillars of the Green Agenda in the Western Balkans.

The measure is focused to environment protection with lifting security level in transport, and opening of new jobs and increase of investments to electric charging installations.

The up-ward trend of electric and hybrid vehicles import to BIH was continued in 2024 too, as proven by data form Association of authorised agents and sellers of vehicles in BIH, suggesting that 422 vehicles were imported to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first seven months 2024, higher than 25% more than in 2023, when 336 electric and hybrid vehicles were imported.

Earlier, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to supplement a Decision on customs tariffs for 2025, which includes CNG new passenger cars.

EU PRIORITY: LAW ON DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN ASISTANCE BY BIH TO THIRD COUNTRIES

The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-proposed decision on appointment of a Cross-Sector Work Group for development of a Draft Law on Development and Humanitarian Assistance of Bosnia and Herzegovina to third countries, thus taking activities for implementation of priorities within Chapter 30 (foreign relations) of the European Commission Opinion, with some corrections made by the session.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is due to incorporate of the Work Group missing members, after being proposed by responsible Cantonal institutions.

The Work Group, made of representatives of responsible institutions at the State, Entity and Brčko District of BIH levels plus cantons, should develop and forward a Draft Law on Development and Humanitarian Assistance to third countries, and send it to the Council of Ministers via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within 60 days from taking the Decision.

The Development and Humanitarian Assistance of Bosnia and Herzegovina to third counties represents a unique instrument of foreign and security policy to offer a constructive and significant contribution to strengthening of peace and security globally, and to affirm the country additionally at the international scene and within multilateral fora.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO GET INCLUDED INTO CHILD COUNCIL

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees-proposed decision on supplements to decision on formation of a Child Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, under which children and youth are included into the Council.

According to the Decision, supplemented at the session, the Council will include children and youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina in its work through responsible Entity and other institutions in BIH, pursuant to age of children, including Child Parliament, as informal advisory body.

This advisory body will hold consultations with children of different age and youth at its sessions at least annually and more frequently, as appropriate, wishing the improvement of quality of work and improved child protection.

DEVELOPMENT OF STATE STRATEGY OF SUPERVISION OVER NARCOTICS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision, with corrections made at the session,, on Amendments of Decision on setting-up of a work group for Development of Proposal State Strategy for Supervision over Narcotics, Prevention and Suppression of Misuse of Narcotics, and 2924-2028 State Action Plan of Fight Against Misuse of Narcotics in BIH.

The Decision makes a functional change of members of the work group from the Council of Ministers of BIH institutions and responsible Entity and Brčko District institutions, after previously appointed members retired or changed assignments.

A new deadline for completion of the task is Sept. 30, 225, after which the Proposal Strategy and State Action Plan should be sent to the Council of Ministers of BIH via the Ministry of Security for consideration.

REQUEST FOR INITIATION OF VOTE ON GOVERNMENT RECONSTRUCTION

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a request for initiating vote on reconstruction of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, tabled today by the Parliamentarian Assembly House of Representatives.

It is about an Initiative for replacement of state-level Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac and Minister of Finance and Treasury Srđan Amidžić, singed by Chairs of Clubs of Representatives of SPD BIH, NiP and NS in the House of Representatives, together with eight representatives of the House.

CONSENT TO APPOINTMENT OF DEFENCE ATTACHÉ OF CHINA IN BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for appointment of Senior Colonel Sun Jilong for a defence attaché of the People’s Republic of China in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (end)

Link for Photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720323772676