Council of Ministers Holds Its 14th Session

DAY OF MOURNING IN BIH 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to announce July 11, 2015 a day of mourning in BIH.

 

DRAFT LAW ON ASYLUM DEFINED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Law on asylum with a mark “E”, as a proof of high level harmonisation with relevant EU legislative.

Demarcation of the law on asylum form the law on foreigners is aimed to solve in  a sustainable and effective way the issue of migration trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with due regard having of international standards are possibilities of their actual implementation in BIH.

The Proposal Law on Asylum offers more effective and purposeful solutions as to asylum issues, better regulated conditions and procedure for approving refugee status, including subsidiary protection and temporary protection, as well as rights and obligation of asylum seekers.

The development f the draft law individual international experts and NGO sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Secutio4y will provide the Proposal Law to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under regular legislative procedure.

 

BIH AND GEORGIA IMRPOVE THEIR ECONOMIC COOERPATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Trade Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, under which the two states would mutually approve the most preferred nation treatment and would improve mutually useful economic cooperation.

A Joint Committee, to be formed for monitoring of the Trade Agreement implementation, will be comprised of relevant representatives of the two states, and it will facilitate intensification of trade cooperation between relevant institutions and business communities.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the Proposal Agreement and a negotiations report to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister Mirko Šarović is proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

SWEDEN – BIH AGREEMENT ON DEVELOPMENT COOERPATION TO 2020

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined proposal basics for negotiations on an Agreement between Sweden and BIH on development cooperation in 2014-2020, in order to support the Europeans interactions of BIH.

Sweden will support BIH in its efforts to improve economic integrations with the European Union and develop functional market economy, in addition to democratic strengthening, respect for human rights and rule of law and better environmental protection.

The Agreement between Sweden, represented by the Swiss International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, defines framework of future cooperation by 2020, in accordance with 2014-2020 Swedish cooperation strategy, based on reforms results in the Eastern Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey.

 

 

NEW BORDER CROSSINGS FOR ARMS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT TRANSIT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, took a decision on supplements to the a decision on defining international border crossings for transit of armament and military equipment, hazardous, explosive and radioactive matters and dual purpose  items.

The future transit of armament and military equipment, hazardous, explosive and radioactive matters and dual purpose items will unfold across the “Bijača” border crossing, instead of the “Doljani-Metković” border crossing, which was classified under a contract with the Republic of Croatia as a passenger border crossing. Also, the “Gradiška” border crossing will be opened for transit of this kind of goods in work days from 22.00 to 6.00 hrs.

 

BIH WANTS TO JOIN “HEALTH FOR GROWTH” PROGRAMME

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH confirmed the interest for participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU “Health for Growth” Programme, and adopted a report of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on a proposal to start a procedure for BIH joining the Programme.

The Ministry of civil Affairs is tasked to send a letter of interest to the relevant European Commission Directorate general for joining the EU “Health for Growth” Programme.

Under the Programme, applicants form Bosnia and Herzegovina would be given a chance to participate in various projects, to exchange information, best practice and experiences in support provision for the public health sector, with focus on patients.

The total programme budget for 2014-2020 is EUR 448.4.

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS SUPPORT MEETING OF STRUCTURAL DIALOGUE ON JUDICIARY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered information on holding of a plenary meeting  within the Structural Dialogue on Judiciary and  rule of law issues, scheduled for July 13 and 14, 2015 in Sarajevo. The Council of Ministers also took a decision on amendment of a decision on task groups for European Integrations.

The decision defines a composition of task groups for judiciary and interior, and BIH Minister of Justice is designated as the tasks group chairman and head of BIH delegation at the Structural Dialogue meetings.

The Council of Ministers granted its consent for the proposed agenda to be agreed at the meeting, in addition to is consent to a preliminary composition of BIH delegation.

The Directorate for European Integrations will provide the agreed-to composition of the BIH delegation to the European Commission.

Following compilation of BIH responses to European Commission questions, the Directorate for European Integrations will provide the responses, as per defined agenda, to the European Commission.

Priority topics of the meeting are the judiciary reform and war crimes processing, in addition to anti-corruption issues. Other than BIH competent representatives from State, Entity and cantonal levels and the European Commission representatives, the meeting will be attended by representatives of BIH civil society.

 

BACKING TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH supports continuation of the public administration reform through on-going projects and other activities planned under the Public Administration Reform Strategy and Revised Action Plan 1, and this includes an analysis of planned and undertaken steps within the public administration reform, evaluation of BIH Public Administration Reform Strategy and SIGMA analysis of inceptive status of public administration in BIH.

The Council of Ministers Supports analysis of the public administration reform and development of a document on further directions of the public administration reform to be forwarded to the Council of Ministers of BIH for adoption, after obtaining agreement by all stakeholders, i.e. BIH institutions included into the public administration reform process.

These conclusions were made aong with adoption of a report of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office on public administration reform related issues.

According to the Report, viewed by reform areas form the revised Action Plan 1, the major improvement was made in the institutional communications, with 74 per cent of planned goals achieved, while the poorest improvement was made in E-government with 48 per cent of goals fulfilled. The BIH institutions fulfilled total 60 per cent of goals set by the revised Action Plan 1 – the Federation of BIH 55 per cent, Republika Srpsks 71 per cent and Brčko District 55 per cent.

 

ACHIVES GETS MANAGER

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Šimun Novaković as Acting Manager of the BIH Archives until the completion of job vacancy procedure.

 

BUSINESS FORUMS ORGANSIATION OT BE SYSTEMATICALLY ERGULATED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a report of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of BIH form a round table “Activities Coordination ” in FDI Attraction, of June 1, 2015.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency wil prepare instructions for organisation of business forums abroad and calendar of events, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Offices of Chairmen of the BIH Presidency and of Council of Ministers, Entity and Brčko District Governments and BIH Foreign Trade Chamber. The aim is to promote organisation of business forums abroad.

 

TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers f BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, took a Plan for Guidelines of Labour Market Policy and active employment measures in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2015, as planned by competent State and Entity institutions.

The Plan should increase the quality and quantity of offered work posits, and promote social inclusion and gender equality in BIH in the employment process.

Active policy measures through more than 20 employment programmes in Entities and Brčko District will be implemented by the Federal Institute for Employment and cantonal employment service, Republika Srpska Employment Institute and Bčko District Employment Institute. Measures of active employment policy include various forms of support in embayment, self-employment, preparation for labour market though additional training and up-grading, in accordance with applicable legal regulations.

The planned measures should bring along positive changes as early as this year at BIH labour market, after year 2014, marking a 2.9 employment increase in ration of a year before.

 

 

 

STRATEGIC PREVENTION AND SUPRESION OF TERRORISM

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a  proposal of the Ministry of Security, took Bosnia and Herzegovina Strategy for prevention and fight against Terrorism in 2015-2020, in order to continue suppression of terrorism and terrorism associated acts in BIH and fulfilment of international obligations.

The Strategy is in the function of  of suppression of all forms of extremist behaviour and terrorist activates, with a full respect of democratic values, rule of law and human rights and freedoms, in order to make Bosnia and Herzegovina a space safe for life and work of tis citizens nad persons saying in it. The Strategy envisions establishment of a supervisory body, to be comprised from competent all-level authorities’ representatives for monitoring its implementation and coordinating of all activities towards fulfilment of strategy-set goals.

All competent BIH institutions and NGO sector representatives were consulted in the Strategy drafting process, including scholars, civil organisations dealing with security issues, media and religious communities and international organisations.

 

DECREASED TOTAL NUMBER OF CRIMINAL ACTS IN LAST YEAR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in year 2014, which is a compilation of indicators prepared by BIH security agencies, and which indicates that last year’s decrease of total number of criminal acts in BIH for 7.57 per cent in relation to the year before.

The report says that the number of committed criminal acts from the area of general criminal decreased for 12.38 per cent, with decreased total number of demeanours from the area of public peace and order for 10.58 per cent.

In the area of border security and movement and stay of foreigners, total 2,593 crossings of border  i.e. attempted crossings of border  were evidenced for 1,195 persons or security suspicious persons, for which competent authorities issued circular warrants, while 198 persons were detected in attempted illegal crossings of border , which were banned to enter BIH as they do not fulfil requirements set under the Law on Movement and Stay of Foreigners and Asylum-Seekers, which represents a decrease for 4.34 per cent in relation to year 2013. In comparison to 2013, last year witnessed a drop of number of criminal acts of cross-border crime for 14.1 per cent, and still the most frequent criminal acts are illicit production and trade of narcotics and attempt of their smugglings across the state border.

The number of criminal acts connected to human trafficking in 2014 was decreased for 5.88 per cent, in comparison with 2013, and a downward trend is evident for smuggling of persons at BIH level for significant 29.16 per cent in relation to the year before.

Last year saw no terrorist attack, although BIH in the context of possible threats from terrorism share position of many counties facing permanent risks, so certain potential threats were timely spotted and suppressed as a part of precaution measures and perpetrators brought to justice. So SIPA were reported 22 cases of basics for suspicion for committed criminal acts having connection with terrorism against 22 public persons and one NN person.

Last year total 22 murders were reported at BIH level, which is 6.5 per cent more than the year before.

A sense of insecurity with citizens is still provoked by the most numerous criminal acts against property (20.845 reported thefts), while their decrease was reported last year for 9.96 per cent in relation to year 2013.

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