Press Releases

Council of Ministers Holds Its 66th Session

Press Releases

10/23/2013

Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury adopted a 2014-2016 BIH Framework Budget Document, drafted based on the adopted Global Fiscal Framework of Balance and Policies in BIH for the relevant period. 

According to the Framework Budget Document, the annual budgeted funds for financing of the BIH Institutions in to year 2016 are KM 950 million, and indirect tax revenues are KM 750 million.

In developing the Framework Budget Document, i.e. in setting expenditure ceilings, a due care was taken of priorities which include the fulfilment of the European Partnership requirements, joining NATO, and provision of a part of funds for budge users’ multiyear investment.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Prevention of Money Laundry and Financing of Terrorism, aligning the area with the European Union standards.

The Amendments and Supplements to the Law define the role of the State Agency for Investigations and Protection Financial-Intelligence Division (FOO SIPA), as a central unit receiving, collecting, registering, investigating and disseminating results of analyses in this area.

The Law introduces the function of a notary responsible to provide to FOO SIPA data for every certified sales contract on sales of immovable property priced at KM 30,000 and more.

The Ministry of Security will provide the proposal law to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the BIH Public Procurement to incorporate amendments provided by the Ministry of Defence into the Draft Law on Public Procurement, taking regard of required adjustment and following the practice of the European Union in this area, and to provide the entire text Law to the Council of Ministers for adoption.

 

The Council of Ministers defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Settlement of Old Hard Currency Savings Liabilities, which annuls the ultimate deadline for the savings verification, thus allowing for a subsequent verification of old hard currency savings, according to assessments to be made by the competent Entity and Brčko District authorities.

The purpose of the Amendments of the Law is to comply with the principles of equality of citizens and protection of their rights and fundamental freedoms, primarily an unhindered enjoy their property, taking care of a fact that Entities and Brčko District enabled additional deadlines for the verification of old hard currency savings.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Law to the Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under the urgent procedure.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH supported, by a majority vote, an Initiative of the SNSD Club of Deputies in the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly House of Representatives for a reshuffling of the Council of Ministers (replacement of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Deputy Minister of Defence and Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Refugees). The Secretariat-General will provide the conclusions to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

 

The Council of Ministers defined a Proposal Loan Agreement for “Water Supply System for Municipality of Livno – Livno Horizon – North Horizon – North Leg, Phase II” Project between Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and the Raiffeisen Bank AG, worth EUR 3.5 million, with 10 year term and 5.5 year grace period.

The realisation of the project will secure a long-term continuous and high quality water supply, considerably reducing losses in the existing water supply pipeline, and enable the connection of new users to the public water supply system.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement with basics for its conclusion to the Presidency of BIH, and Minister Nikola Špirić is prosed as its signatory.

 

The Council of Ministers granted its consent to the Sparcasse Bank d.d. Bosnia and Herzegovina to borrow EUR 10 million from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for a partial financing of investments connected to the SME lending in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This way, the Council of Ministers intends to contribute the strengthening of SMEs in BIH, including the improvement of their competitive position, creation of new permanent and seasonal jobs with the maintenance the existing ones, in line with the CB development policy.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will inform the CEB of the conclusion and prepare the loan application.

 

Upon a proposal of the Indirect Taxation Administration, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve the “Implementation of NTCS – New Computerised Transit System in Bosnia and Herzegovina” Project, estimated at KM 13,390,000.00, to be included into the 2013-2016 multi-year capital investment Programme.

The Project will be funded from the BIH Budget in amount of KM 10 million and from IPA resources in amount of KM 3.4 million.

The NCTS is a computerised transit system based on an exchange of electronic messages, replacing paper customs documents, which enables electronic operations. It is designed to ensure a better management and control of EU/EFTA transit procedure, and is used in 27 EU countries and 4 ETFA countries.

 

The Council of Ministers defined and will provide to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly a proposal for appointment of the following seven members of the Communications Regulatory Agency Council: Zoran Tomić, Ljubo Božović, Miloš Šolaja, Plamenko Čuistović, Mirza Milišić, Nina Ćorić, and Faruk Borić.

These seven candidates were proposed by the Council of Ministers of BIH from a list of 14 candidates, provided by a Parliamentarian ad hoc Committee for the implementation of appointment procedure for the BIH CRA Council.

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to appoint members of the Steering Board of the Memorial Centre Srebrenica -  Potočari, monument and graveyard of victims of 1995 genocide.

Members of the Memorial Complex for a four year-term will be:  Selma Užičanin, Mustafa Pašalić, Nermina Kapetanović, Amor Mašović, Sadik Ahmetović and Zukan Helez, while a representative of the Government of Republika Srpska will be appointed subsequently.

 

Upon a proposal of the BIH Institute for Standardisation, the Council of Ministers of BIH released Sead Bekić from the post of managing public servant, Deputy Manager of the BIH Institute for Standardisation, of the reason of his retirement.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Milijana Lale as a member of the Managing Board of the Agency for Preschool, Primary and Secondary School Education, as the best from the list of th most successful candidates.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH noted a Joint Initiative of Prime Ministers of Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively, on a joint electric-power project on the Drina River.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are tasked to launch a procedure for a conclusion of an agreement between the Council of Ministers of BIH, Government of the Republic of Serbia and Government of the Republic of Italy on cooperation in construction of an electric-power facility at inter-entity and international basin of the Drina River.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to draw the fifth tranche of the IV Stand-By Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, and to authorise the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to issue a promissory note for an amount of KM 95,446,776.71.

Two thirds of the amount will be allocated to the Federation of BIH and one third to Republika Srpska.

The disbursement of the rest of tranches is subject to the IMF quarterly review and will be approved pending of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fulfilment of its commitments.

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