Council of Ministers Holds Its 105th Session

HARMONISATION OF BIH REGUALTIONS WITH EU CUSTOMS REGULATIONS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Customs Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina aiming to adjust it to the EU customs legislation, which would create conditions for a speeded, effective and consistent implementation of European customs rules in practice. It is one among commitments undertaken under the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement.

This comprehensive law is adjusted to the Customs Law of the European Union, comprised of 279 Articles.

Under the Law, the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina is responsible for issuance of evidence on non-preferential origin of goods. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will be responsible for subsequent control of issued evidences on non-preferential origin of goods. A special regulation to be adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH will regulate all non-preferential goods-related issues.

The Draft Law had been earlier posted on web site of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, allowing the procedure of public consultations to be completed.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations

 

 

TO DISTRIBUTE THE COORDINATION BODY REPORT TO ENTITY AND BRČKO DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS

 The Council of Ministers of BIH received an Activity Report of the Coordination Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Protection and Rescue from natural and other disasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be distributed to Entity Governments and Brčko District of BIH Government.

 

 

IMPROVEMENT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN BIH AND SERBIA IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on cooperation in telecommunication sector.

The Memorandum will promote cooperation in the sector, focusing on legislative framework for development of broadband network and technology and process of shift from analogue to digital broadcasting of terrestrial TV programme and management of radiofrequency spectrum. In parallel, new technologies will be developed intensively in telecommunication sector, with joint cooperation with international organisations and joint research projects, and it will be in a provisional implementation as at the date of signing. The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide both the Proposal Memorandum and adopted activity report for the preparation of its conclusion to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister Damir Hadžić is proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

 

BIH AND MONTENEGRO TO MUTUALLY PROTECT INTERTESTS OF THEIR CITIZENS IN THIRD COUNTRIES

 The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Treaty on Cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro on a consular protection and visa-related issues in order to advance protection of both states’ citizens staying in third countries, where one of country-signatories has no its own diplomatic-consular office.

Diplomatic-consular posts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro will protect mutually the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s, i.e. Montenegrin citizens in terms of securing consular protection and visa issuance to foreign citizens intending to visit either of the states for touristic or business reasons.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the Proposal Treaty to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, along with a report on negotiations, while Minister dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija is proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

 

AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE PROVISION

 The Council of Ministers of BIH defined several individual proposal basics for negotiations on agreements with neighbouring states on delegating service provision in air traffic. Proposal basics were defined for the conclusion of treaties between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Croatia, Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro.

The conclusion of the treaties is compliant with earlier adopted Air Traffic Management Strategy of BIH (BHATM).It creates a system capable of taking up functions of air traffic control over the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in compliance with EUROCONTROL standards, and it is in line implementation of a functional and institutional transformation of air traffic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its harmonisation with EC regulations in view of dividing the role of regulator from that of service provider in air navigation.

The Ministry of communications and transport will provide individual proposal basics to the BIH Presidency of further procedure, and Minister Damir Hadžić is proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

 

€ 1200 MILLION FOR CONTINUATION OF COSNTRUCTION ON CORRIDOR V c

 The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and appointed a delegation for negotiations on a Finance Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank –for Corridor V c – section Počitelj – Bijača, linking Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia on north and south of the country.

The Počitelj-Bijača section is 21.2 km long, divided into three sub-sections: Kravice – Bijača, Zvirovići – Kravice and Počitellj – Zvirovići.

The European Investment Bank lends € 100 mil. for the project implementation to be allocated to the Federation of BIH, with repayment term of 25 years, including six year grace period and favourable EURIBOR interest rate.

Total project costs are estimated at € 202 mil., out of which EIB loan funds €100 mil, while earlier concluded EBRD loan funds € 60 mil. The missing funds, intended for construction, surveillance and expropriation will be provided from BIH resources.

 

 

STRENGTHENING OF BIH INSTITUTIONS – PHASE II

 The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina endorsed a conclusion of an Implementation Agreement between the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office (PARCO) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for Public Institutions Strengthening Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Phase II, and authorised Coordinator Semiha Borovac to sign it.

During the implementation of the Agreement, the PARCO is responsible to secure a consistent implementation of Public Administration Reform Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and implementation of reform measures defined under a revised Action Plan 1.

The PARCO is obliged to submit annual reports on the implementation of the above agreement to the Council of Ministers, however without interfering into the independency of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its reporting obligations to the Parliamentarian Assembly and Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

 

SUGAR TARIFF QUOTAS

 Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and economic relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to repeat quantities of tariff quotas in 2014 for import of raw sugar and sugar cane for processing.

Under the Decision, the quantity of tariff quota of 50,000 tonnes is repeated in 2014 and it refers to use in capacitates installed in BIH until December 31, 2014.

The imported sugar will be processed in capacities installed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

 

DECREASE IN NUMBERS OF HUMAN TRAFICKING VICTIMS IN BIH

 The council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of security on state of affairs  in the area of human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013, which indicates that the number of identified human trafficking victims decreased considerably.

So, in year 2013, 16 potential victims were identified, who were exposed to sexual and forced labour exploitation or sale for purposes of forced marriage, while in 2012 total 39 potential victims were registered.

Last year, a coordinated and partner approach by both government and NGO sectors, allowed for a wide range of protection and assistance measures available to identified human trafficking victims.

 

 

2,634 PERSONS TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH NATO TRUST FUND

 The Council of Ministers adopted a report of the Ministry of Defence on realisation of a project of joining resources from the Ministry of Defence Budget into NATO Trust Fund for taking care of released personnel of the Ministry of defence (Armed Forces) of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2010-1013.

Total Fund Budget in the reported period was about € 6.4 mil. And it included donor contributions form 13 ANTO countries and PfP, including BIH resources. To date, total 2,634 persons were assisted, i.e. 1,846 persons in 2010-2012, and 787 released persons in 2013. The project included 1,693 agricultural projects, 891 business projects, 9 employment projects and 41 education projects.

 

 

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ARCHIVES RELEASED FROM DUTY UPON PERSONAL REQUEST

 Upon a proposal of the Archives of BIH, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on release form duty of Ilma Mehić-Jusufbašić from the position of Deputy Director of the Archives of BIH due to a voluntary abandoning of the post. The Legislative Office of the Council of Ministers will prepare a related resolution on release form duty.

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