Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 22nd Session

Budget Execution Report Adopted 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Budget Execution Report of BIH Institutions and International Obligations for January-June 2015, to be provided to the BIH Presidency and Parliamentarian Assembly by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

Total realised revenues, receivables and available financing available to the BIH Institutions were KM 523,910,053 or 55% relative to the projected amount.

Out of that sum, KM 481,302,772 were realised revenues and financial support to institutions, namely, revenues from the Single Treasury Account to finance institutions (KM 367,703,167), non-taxable revenues (KM 105,402,453), current transfers from abroad (KM 7,869,768) and transfers from other levels of authorities (KM 326,389).

The BIH Institutions continued their austerity measures in regard to the gross salaries and emoluments, and additional saving was made on supplies costs Further to this, a moratorium to employment was made in the BIH Institutions, except for extraordinary cases, pending the Council of Ministers’ approval. In that context, the BIH Institutions have fulfilled all agreed preconditions from the Letter of Intent for implementation of the Stand-By Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund.

Total realised expenditures of the Budget of BIH Institutions in the first half of 2015 were KM 411,889,161 or 43% relative to the Budget, as adopted for 2015, and without special purpose funds, or 34% in relation to the corrected one, which includes the special purpose funds.

The expenditures structure includes budget users to which KM 404,695,901 or 98% of total expenditures were spent. Direct transfers from the Single Treasury Account were made in amount of KM 7,152,260 KM or 1.74% of the total amount, and set-aside funds amounted to KM 41,000 or 0.01 % of total expenditures.

In January 1- June 30, 2015 the due foreign debt obligations were fully and timely serviced and they amounted to KM 301.03 million.

 

BIH Justice Sector Reform Strategy Adopted

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Bosnia and Herzegovina Justice Sector Reform Strategy 2014-2018, initiated by the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice of BIH is tasked to coordinate development of an Action Plan, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice of the Federation of BIH, Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska and Judicial Committee of the Brčko District of BIH, set to be prepared by 90 day deadline, and to inform the Council of Ministers of BIH accordingly. The Action Plan should define contents of the reform measures and activities from the Strategy, and set realistic time frames for their implementation.

The Ministry of Justice of BIH is tasked to submit regularly to the Council of Ministers comprehensive up-dates on all realised activities in the Action Plan development process and to make sure that all positions of the Ministry of Justice, i.e. Council of Ministers of BIH have prior consent at the Council of Ministers of BIH level.

The strategic vision is an effective and coordinated justice system in BIH, accountable to all citizens and fully harmonised with the relevant EU standards and best practice, thus guaranteeing the rule of law.

The Strategy was made by a joint effort of the Ministry of Justice of BIH, Entity and Cantonal Justice Ministries and High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BIH, Judicial Committee of the Brčko District, and representatives of associations of jurists, barristers, notaries, mediators and other NGOs.

The Strategy identifies five major reform areas: judiciary, access to justice, support to economic development, execution of criminal sanctions and issues of coordination, management and accountability of the BIH justice sector stakeholders.

 

Implementation of ECHR Rulings Action Plan

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Justice, considered and adopted an Action Plan for implementation of rulings of the European Court for Human Rights in cases “Zornić vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “Sejdić & Finci vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina”, with accepted suggestion for deadlines for Action Plan implementation to be defied by a work group, upon completing needed consultations. Members of the work group, on behalf of the Council of Ministers of BIH are: Minister of Justice Josip Grubeša, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Semiha Borovac and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Šarović.

The Ministry of Justice is tasked to prepare a Proposal Decision on the work group assigned preparation of a proposal amendment Constitution of BIH and harmonisation of the Election Law of BIH  according to data being provided, and forward it to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH for signature.

The Ministry of Justice of BIH will extend administrative and technical support to the work group and will inform the Office of the Council of Ministers Agent before the ECHR in Strasbourg of the Group's activities .

The ruling „Sejdić & Finci vs. BIH“ and „Zornić vs. BIH“ defined that BIH is in breach of the European Convention  for Protection of Human Rights  and Fundamental Freedoms, because of impossibility of applicants to put their candidacy at the elections for the House of Peoples of the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly and for BIH Presidency. The Action Plan defines adoption of amendments to the BIH Constitution and harmonisation of the Election Law in order to remedy human rights and fundamental freedoms breaches, found n the rulings.

 

Cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Office of European Police (EUROPOL)

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on Operative and Strategic Cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Office of European Police (EUROPOL).

The purpose of the Agreement is to set-up cooperation between EUROPOL and Bosnia and Herzegovina for support to all EU member-countries and BIH in prevention and fight against organised crime, terrorism and other forms of international crime, especially by way of exchange of information between EUROPOL and BIH.

Also, Bosnia and Herzegovina and EUROPOL will support each other to facilitate establishment and operation of joint investigative teams.

The joint contact point of BIH for cooperation with EUROPOL will be the Ministry of Security of BIH, at Trg BIH 1, Sarajevo. It will be established subject to a Provisional Decision of the Council of Ministers of BIH on launching cooperation and data exchange between relevant law enforcement bodies of BIH and EUROPOL, published in the Official Gazette 7/14. According to the Decision, the joint contact points in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BIH, State Investigations and Protection Agency of BIH, Border Police of BIH, Foreigners’ Affairs Service, Federal Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska, and Brčko District of BIH Police.

The Ministry of Security of BIH will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Security of BIH was proposed to be the BIH signatory.

 

Note on Refugee Crisis

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH, adopted Information on assessments and prospects of BIH in regard to the refugee crisis in the region and European Union.

All institutions and agencies are responsible to realise measures defined under an Emergency Measures Plan for provision of additional capacities, control and management in case of massive refugee influx to BIH.

The Ministry of Security and Migration Issues Coordination Body of BIH are responsible to cooperate with other competent institutions in monitoring implementation of the Emergency Measures Plan, correct it, as appropriate, and inform the Council of Ministers of BIH accordingly.

 

Activities to Accelerate BIH Digitalisation Process

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Communications and Transport on activities taken to accelerate the digitalisation process.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport should provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH a Draft Decision on releasing public broadcasters and commercial TV stations in BIH from state levies for use of the radio-frequency spectrum.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport is responsible to revise and provide to the Council of Ministers the following:

-          Proposal Decision on use of part of funds paid for allocated permits for Universal mobile telecommunications systems for 2011 and 2012 for financing the second “A” phase of the BIH Public Broadcasters Microwave Links Digitalisation;

-          Proposal Decision on use of a part of accumulated surplus revenue over expenditures of the BIH Regulatory Agency for Communications for funding the second “B” phase of the BIH Public Broadcasters Microwave Links Digitalisation.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked to designate a committee for procurement of digital microwave links of the BIH public broadcasters – phase II. The Ministry of Communications and Transport is also responsible to consider:

-          Prospects for transfer from DVB-T standard to the DVB-T2 , keeping pace with the technological progress, in order to assist the commercial TV stations;

-          Ways to subsidy BIH citizens for procurement of TS boxes.

 

 

The Council of Ministers defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Contract on research and Innovations Centre of the Western Balkans – WISE and Proposal Contract to be sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, accompanied with a proposal for the Contract signatory to be Minister of Civil Affairs of BIH Adil Osmanović.

The Establishment of the Western Balkans Research and Innovations Centre was planned under the Western Balkans Regional Scientific Strategy, adopted at October 2013 Ministerial Conference in Zagreb.

The Western Balkans Research and Innovations Centre – WISE aims strengthening of regional research, innovation and technological systems, support provision, consulting, briefs and recommendations to states and public and private institutions, NGOs and all other relevant participants.

The aim is also to strengthen cooperation at both regional and international levels for improvement of research and investment climate in the Western Balkans.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to approve funds from the current reserves of the Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for 2015 for the Council of Ministers-sponsored 449^th Mostar Bridge jumps, in amount of KM 40,000.

 

Appointments

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, took a Decision to appoint Svevlad Hoffman as BIH National Coordinator for cooperation and coordination with the Regional Centre “Regional Initiative for Migrations, Asylum and Refugees” (MARRI)

The BIH National Coordinator for cooperation and coordination with the MARRI Regional Centre is for a two-year term.

 

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to appoint a National Coordinator for integrated border management in Bosnia and Herzegovina and on procedures and ways of coordination in the area of integrated border management in BIH. Assistant Minister for Border and General Security with the Ministry of Security of BIH, Ermin Pešto was appointed for National Coordinator for a four-year term.

The assignment of the  national coordinator is, among other things, o take part in preparation, monitoring and implementation of the BIH integrated border management related Strategy and Action Plan, and to coordinate and initiate activities with relevant institutions for the realisation of Action Plan targets.

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, the Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Darko Vućica, representative of the Civil Aviation Directorate (BHDCA) into the Council of the Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (end)