Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 169th Session

MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS IN WESTERN BALKANS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement of mutual recognition of professional qualifications for doctors of medicine , doctors of dental stomatology, architects, and civil construction engineer, which Agreement removes all obstacles for free movement of experts throughout the region.

The Agreement was agreed by representatives of six the Western Balkans economies, namely, the republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo[1], Republic of North Macedonia and republic of Serbia within the Berlin process for inciting experts’ mobility, better harmonisation of individual capacities with the needs of labour market and increased productivity.

This is an important breakthrough in the context of the region’s future accession to the European Union.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH was proposed for the BHIH signatory.

The signing of the Agreement was planned to take place at the Western Balkans Summit in Poland, this July.

 

BIH CENTRE OF INTEREST OF MAJOR INVESTORS OF EUROPE AND WORLD ON MAY 7-9

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on activities implemented to-date in relation to organisation of the EBRS Board of Governors Annual Meeting, scheduled for May 7-9, 2019 in Sarajevo, one of the major events ever held in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

These days, Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the centre of interest of major investors form Europe and the world, and so with long-term positive effects. The aim of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to have the EBRD place more than EUR one billion for development of BIH economy

The EBRD Board of Governors Annual Meeting is a great chance for economies to connect to secure a stronger growth of BIH, and one of the major events is the Investment Conference dedicated to prospect of investment to BIH.

About 17 side events were planned to take place, including several panel-sessions devoted to investment to the Western Balkans, corporative prospects, as well as sustainable and inclusive tourism in the South East Europe. At the margins of the EBRD Board of Governors Annual Meeting, a session is announced on the Western Balkans, featuring leaders of six countries, as well as a joint EBRD-European Commission event devoted to investment promotion and improvement of living standard in the Western Balkans during the European integrations process.

The session granted tis consent to the BIH Governor in the EBRD, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to sign a Letter of Consent.

 

 

 

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY OF BIH INSTITUTIONS ON EU ACCESSION PROCESS OF BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Directorate for European Integrations, to adopt a Communication Strategy of BIH Institutions in the process oof Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union – form the candidate status to membership, which represents a framework for implementation of joint communication activities of BIH Institutions, in cooperation with other partners.

The application of the Communication Strategy on the EU accession process of BIH starts with gaining the candidate status of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the new strategic approach will be applicable until the BIH membership in the EU.

The new strategic approach is designed to secure better understanding of the European integrations processes, improve public awareness and understanding of implications of accession to everyday life of citizens and the society in a whole.

The aim is to avail different groups of public in BIH an active participation in the European integrations process (including dialogue and critical discussion with civil society and business and academic communities).

 

HIGHER LEVEL OF REIMBURSEMENT AND PROTECTION OF SEAMEN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal for launching a procedure to accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Amendments and Supplements from 2018 to the 2006 Code of Maritime Labour Convention of the International Labour Organisation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina thus endorses the amendments taken to the end of securing a higher level of protection of reimbursements and rights to seamen during their detention on board or out-of ship due to piracy or an armed robbery of ship.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will send the Proposal to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure.

 

PROTECTION OF MARKS OF ORIGIN AND OF GEGRAPHICAL ORIGIN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Food Safety Agency took a decision on level of reimbursement for both the procedure of protection of marks of origin and geographical origin and procedure of protection of marks of guaranteed traditional food specialities.

Under the Decision, a Regulation on quality system of food products is being implemented and conditions for smooth protection procedure for marks of food products are being created, including for marks of guaranteed traditional food specialities at the European Union level. The level of levies is KM 30, for applying for registration, entry or delete from the registry it is KM 500, as high as the registration procedure costs.

 

US FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF ISTANBUL CONVENTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees report on implementation of a Grant Agreement for Development Aims between the Government of the United States of America and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including on spending of grant funds in January-December 2018.

The implementation of activities within the project contributes considerably to implementation of Istanbul Convention, ratified by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013, committing to take-up all legal and other obligations to secure legal, institutional and organisational framework for prevention of violence against women, victim protection and sanctioning of perpetrators.

One of activities steaming from the Agreement over the reporting period of time is the allocation of grant funds in amount of KM 160,000 for nine NGOs for the more effective prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, as well as better protection of gender-based violence and setting-up a Committee for Monitoring and Reporting under the Istanbul Convention and Femicide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

BIH TO MARK 56 IMPORTANT DATES FROM HUMAN RIGHTS AREA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry for Human rights and Refugees-proposed Programme of marking important dates from human rights area in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2019.

The Programme includes 56 events from the human rights area, which the BIH competent institutions, in cooperation with the Ministry for Human rights and refugees, will mark in an appropriate way and in accordance to possibilities within planned budget funds.

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