Council of Ministers Holds Its 44th Session

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and Other Measures, for the purpose of its harmonisation with international standards and the Council of Europe recommendations. 

The Proposal Law defined a responsibility of institutes and other institutions executing measures of detention and criminal sanctions service to produce monthly and periodical reports to the Ministry of Justice so as to improve mutual cooperation, reporting and collection of relevant data on number of detainees and prisoners, exercising of guaranteed rights, use of benefits and on disciplinary procedures and other relevant issues of this field.

The Amendments and Supplements to the Law that the Ministry of Justice is to forward to the Parliamentarian procedure introduce a specialised expert training for a number of prison officers to work with foreign detainees, in order to get better understanding and aid them more successfully in problem-solving.

Upon a proposal of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to allow a purchase project for the needs of BIH Institutions, which will be included into the Multi-Year Capital Investment Programme for 2012-2014. The Council of Ministers of BIH wants to start a systematic solving of issues with the  accommodation of BIH Institutions and make long-term Budget savings, as annual rental costs for BIH Institutions amount up to KM 9.5 million.

Under the Decision, the funds to be provided for in the Budget for this year, in amount of KM 20 million will be used to solve the issue of funding of priority accommodation needs and furbishing of BIH Institutions’ facilities in Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and East Sarajevo.

The project funds were ensured form the following sources: KM 7.2 million from sales of the ‘Maršal Tito’ Military Barracks; KM 12.8 special purpose funds from accrued profit of the “BIH Official Gazette” in 2013, in line with earlier conclusion of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

The development of the 2014-2016 Global Fiscal Framework is to take into consideration funds for the continuation of the purchase project for facilities for BIH Institutions’ accommodation.

Earlier, the Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a report of the Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH on multi-year capital investments.

The Administration should provide the report to its Steering Board, which will prepare relevant conclusions or adoption by the Council of Ministers of BIH for adoption.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, The Council of Ministers of BIH decided to assign the Identification, Evidence and data Exchange Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for personalisation, technical processing and evidence keeping on travel documents for refugees.

The issuance of travel documents to refugees is in line with an obligations stemming from the 1951 Convention of Refugee Status and Road Map for Liberalisation of Visa Regime.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an analysis of foreign trade exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2012, with an assessment of foreign trade exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina and proposal measures for its improvement.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is tasked to provide the proposal measures for improvement of BIH foreign trade standing to relevant State, Entity and Brčko District institutions.

According to the analysis, a total volume of foreign trade exchange in 2012 was KM 12.11 billion which is less for Km 636.64 million of 28% in relation to 2011. Merchandise imported In 2012 was KM 15.25 billion worth, which is for 1.76% less relative to previous the year, while the export amounted to KM 7.86 billion which represents a drop for 1.26% compared with 2011. The import from the EU countries was 46.93 % of total import to BIH, and export to the EU is 57.94% of total BIH export.

Among 18 measures for improvement of BIH’s foreign trade standing there are the adoption and implementation of appropriate strategic development documents, primarily export, industrial and agro-industrial strategy; implementation of recommendations for removal of barriers to investment; support to irrigation system development; insurance and application of modern agro-technical measures in agricultural production; acceleration of regulations harmonisation with the EU legislation and implementation of already harmonised regulations: launch of activities for joint participation with other countries at third markets, primarily countries of the region; support to establishment of “geographical marks” for certain BIH agricultural products etc.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, by a majority vote, a Proposal Decision on establishment of an ad hoc committee of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for implementation of procedure for appointment of the BIH Communication Regulatory Agency Council, which the Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

The proposed committee members are: Borjana Krišto, delegate in the House of Peoples; Darko Babalj, representative in the House of Representatives; Mehmed Agović, Advisor to Minister of Communications and transport, dr. Lejla Turčilo, communicologist, professor at the Faculty of Political Science in Sarajevo; Ivan Vukoja, sociologist, editor-in-chief of the STATUS, Mostar-based magazine for political culture and social issues; and Dragana Dardić, MA, Banja Luka, CEO, Helsinki Civil Parliament.

The committee is to public vacancy notice and after implementing required procedure, it will define a list of 14 successful candidates and provide it to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Supplements to the Decision on defining international border crossings for the transport of arms and military equipment, hazardous, explosive and radioactive matters and other items for dual purposes.

The Supplement Decision defines “Brod” international border crossing for import and export of liquid oil derivate, liquid oil gas, oil bitumen and granulated sulphur.

The transport of goods cross the international border crossing “Brod” – “Slavonski Brod” will take place in time between 22.00 hrs and 6.00 hrs.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on transfer of approved and unspent funds in amount of KM 1,973,439.30 from BIH Institutions Budget to the Government of Republika Srpska for the purpose of reconstruction of the Kasindo hospital, according to the instruction of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Republika Srpska is due to use these funds for the reconstruction of the Kasindo Hospital, and to report the Council of Ministers of BIH accordingly.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Directorate for European Integrations on holding the 4th plenary meeting of the Structural Dialogue on Judiciary, on April 8-9, 2013 in Brčko, and granted its consent to the proposed agenda and composition of BIH delegation at the meeting.

A discussion document for the 4th plenary meeting was adopted, and it should be adhered to by the participating BIH institutions’’ representatives.

The Directorate for European Integrations is tasked to provide the Discussion Paper and list of delegates to the European Commission and undertake all needed activities for organisation of the 4th plenary meeting of the Structural Dialogue on Judiciary.

The meeting will, among other things, consider the implementation of the State Strategy for work on war crimes files with a focus on financial support and regional cooperation, judiciary reform, as well as effectiveness, efficiency and independence of judicial bodies and institutions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Directorate for European Integrations on adoption of 1013 Multi-Beneficiary IPA Programme within its transition and Institution Building component, for which the European Commission allocated EUR 100,050,000 from IPA budget for public administration reform, justice and interior, private sector development, transport and energy infrastructure, environment and climate change, and social development.

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Zoran Tegeltija, Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska for Alternate Governor of BIH in the World Bank, of which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform the World Bank.

Finance Minister Tegeltija will replace the previous Prime Minister of RS, for the mandate of the Deputy Governor of BIH for the World Bank. 

Upon a proposal of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH, the Council of Ministers of BIH considered a review of implementation of the Council of Ministers’ conclusions from February 13 to December 31, 2012, for which time, at total 33 sessions held, 827 conclusions were made, and out of which 763 or 92% were implemented, while 64 conclusions remained unimplemented.

Ministries and other institutions, which did not fully implement the conclusions, are charged to fully implement them without further delay and to accelerate their activities for the implementation of conclusions which require more time or cooperation with other institutions.

In future, the implementation of the Council of Ministers conclusions should be a matter of priority for all Ministries and other institutions.

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