Sjednice
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 21st Session
04.12.2020
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of an Analysis of BIH public debt sustainability for 2020-2023, drafted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH, for the aim of as effective as possible public finance management and keeping macroeconomic stability.
The Analysis reviews the public indebtedness in BIH and basic risks to public debt sustainability in mid-ter.
The indicator public debt/GDP in 2019 was 31.4%, and it was not high, according to intentional standards.
The global health crisis caused by Covid-219 pandemics affects the whole world, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, too, and according to the base estimates, the indicator was estimated to have an up-ward trend in 2021, while a gradual recovery is expected in 2002 and 2023.
ECONOMC GROWTH LAST LEAR WAS 2.7%
The Council of Ministers adopted the Directorate for Economic Planning document “Bosnia and Herzegovina Development Report; 2019 Annual Report”, which indicates that macroeconomic stability o BIH was not threatened last year.
A stable economic growth of 2.7% was reached in 2019, with decrease of unemployment and current deficit, including keeping public debt within moderate levels. There was notable increase of prices.
TO BOOST COOERPATION OF CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES – PARTNERS IN INTERNATIOANL AGREEMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on implementation of a Decision on control and supervision of implementation of obligations taken under international bilateral and multilateral treaties, agreements and conventions as to identifying origin of goods in 2019.
The piece of information suggests that developing and strengthening of cooperation of customs authorities, partners in free trade international agreement is a very important factor in foreign trade operations.
A compliance to international bilateral and multilateral treaties, agreements and conventions as to identifying origin of goods, and continued control and supervision should prevent creation of certain customs and non-customs barriers by certain countries, which undermine agreed-to principles of international trade exchange.
Economic entities, customs authorities and clearing agencies should be continuously educated on implementation of rules of origin of goods in international trade in goods.
This should facilitate trade and decrease number of administrative and infringement proceedings before customs authorities of contracting parties, in addition to saving time and costs to economic entities in foreign trade operations, which relates to the BIH Budget, as well.
The piece of information presented certain experiences of economic entities, which reflect partly the situation concerning the origin of goods.
EU NORMS TRANSPOSED TO REGUALTION ON NUTRITION ADDITIVES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Food Safety Agency-proposed Regulation on Amendments and Supplements to the Regulation on Nutrition Additives, under which relevant provisions of the European Union were transposed; those were adopted in June 11, 2020.
The amended Regulation should enable a smooth functioning of internal market, which would provide a high level of consumer health protection, in addition to both BIH consumer and producer interests, when it comes to nutrition additives allowed to be used in food.
REPORT ADOPTED ON CONCLUSION OF CONTRACT ON VACCINE PROCUREMENT
The session adopted a Report of the Ministry of civil Affairs on conclusion of a Contract on procurement of vaccine “Commitment agreement-committed purchase agreement” between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI).
Minister Ankica Gudeljević and Deputy Minister Siniša Ilić signed a Vaccine Purchase Contract this September.
It was reported that a purchase of 1,230,000 vaccine doses was planned, which was announced to reach BIH in the first quarter of the next year.
TO IMPLEMENT GRECO RECOMMENDATIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted severally reports of the Ministry of Security, namely, on adoption of the Second Report on harmonisation level of Bosnia and Herzegovina with GRECO recommendations in the fourth evaluation cycle, and on adoption on an Annex to the Second Report on harmonisation level of Bosnia and Herzegovina with GRECO recommendations in the third evaluation cycle, both of which will be posted to GRECO and Ministry of Security relative web sites.
The Council of Ministers of BIH pointed in its conclusions that the implementation of GRECO recommendations made in these reports is a priority assignment, and tasked the Ministry of Security to urge all responsible institutions in BIH to implement them.
PREPARATIONS FOR 5TH MEETING OF SUB-COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information by the Directorate for European Integrations on holding of the fifth meeting of Sub-Committee for Justice, Freedom and Security, on December 17-18, 2020 via on-line platform.
The session adopted several operative conclusions aiming a better preparation for the meeting, and it granted its consent to a Discussion Document and Delegation composition to take part at the meeting.
The Council of Ministers took note of an agreed-to agenda of the Sub-Committee fifth meeting, which includes, among other things, jurisdiction functioning, fight against corruption and organised crime, cooperation of law implementation agencies, migrations, asylum, and border management.
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