Council of Ministers Holds Its 7th Session

TO ESTABLISH KEY INFRASTRUCTURE PROEJCTS REGIONAL FUND 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal to initiate a procedure for negotiations on an Agreement on Foundation of Western Balkan Fund, enjoying the status of an international organisation, with its headquarters in Tirana.

The Fund’s priority task would be to finance key infrastructure and energy regional projects, earlier announced under the new approach of the European Union towards the Western Balkans; all Western Balkan non-EU member countries took a positive attitude on acceding to the Fund.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the proposal with basics for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure.

 

ADRIATIC IONIAN MOTORWAY AS JOINT PROJECT OF COUNTRIES OF REGION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH will provide to the BIH Presidency a Proposal Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia and Montenegro on mutual support and cooperation in the Adriatic-Ionian Motorway project implementation, while Minister of Foreign Affairs of BIH Igor Crnadak was proposed as the BIH signatory.

This move confirms readiness of the four countries to jointly secure support for the project implementation, including the financial one from the EU funds, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), as well as from other relevant partners. For more effective initiative implementation, a Steering Board will be formed and direct communication established at the level of Foreign Ministers and experts. The Memorandum will take effect15 days as at its signing.

 

LOWERED FEES TO STIMULATE BIH EXPOERTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on a Resolution amending the resolution on the level of export certificate fees, as an incentive to export activities in BIH.

Under the Resolution, fees for issuance of international certificates, which accompany delivers of products of animal origin and animal food, were considerably lowered now to amount to KM 5-15.

The Resolution was taken by the Director of the Veterinary Office in end April this year with a purpose to support expert oriented BIH companies to strengthen their competitiveness at the international market.

 

TO CONSTRUCT INTER-STATE BRIDGE BEWEEN BIH AND SERBIA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on construction of an inter-state bridge over the River Drina and accompanying road facilities at Ljubavija-Brtunac location, which would also add to the promotion of bilateral cooperation.

According to the Agreement, the total price for preparation of project documentation, bridge construction, expert supervision and riverbed adaptation in the area of the bridge will be financed by Republika Srpska, which will also initiate procedures for the realisation of the project.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide the Proposal Agreement with a Report on Negotiations to the BIH Presidency, and Minister Slavko Matanović was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

BIH DELEGATION TO MONEYVAL COMMITTEE DESIGNATED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, to designate a Delegation of BIH to the Council of Europe Expert Committee for Evaluation of AML/CFT Activities (Moneyval Committee), appointing Damirka Mioč from the State Agency for Investigations and Protection as the Head of Delegation.

The eight-member Delegation includes representatives of State-level Ministries of Justice and Security, Ministries of Interior of Republika Srpska and the Federation of BIH, along with Entity and Brčko District of BIH banking agencies.

The BIH Delegation to Moneyval will represent BIH in the next four years, participate in its proceedings and will report its activities to the Council of Ministers of BIH, through the Ministry of Security.

 

MIGRATION PROFILE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, adopted a Migration Profile of BIH for year 2014, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, by which Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfilled one of the visa liberalisation regime commitments concerning the regular up-dating.

The Migration Profile of BIH for 2014 will provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH an insight into key migration trends, and the Ministry of Security will be able to develop high quality policies and by-laws.

The Migration Profile indicates that the Broder Police refused 1,987 entries to BIH, and detected 198 illegal attempts of crossing the BIH border, which represents a drop of 17 % compared with the year before. Foreigners were granted 11,022 temporary residence approvals and permanent residence approvals, and the number of denials of non-visa entries or temporary residence applications in 2014 was 817, as increased for 90% relative to 2013, when 430 non-visa entries or temporary stays were denied. Total 380 resolutions on expulsion were taken, or 36.20% compared with the year before, and 218 foreigners were placed under a supervision regime. Five conclusions on execution of resolution of expulsion were taken in 2014, for the contrary to 2013, when only one such conclusion was made.

With the IOM support, 104 citizens of BIH were voluntarily repatriated, which makes total 93¸1 repatriated BIH citizens in time between 2005 and 2013. The international protection (asylum) was sought by 45 persons in 2014, while the number asylum seekers in 2013 reached 100. BIH citizenship was granted to 675 persons, or 4.6 % more than the year before, and that mostly to citizens of Serbia and Croatia.

 

BIH AND TURKEY INCREASE TRANSPORT SAFETY OF PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Contract between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the veterinary area, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations for the reasons of an increase of transport safeness of animals and animal origin products.

The primary aim of the Contract is to have more effective control and prevention of diseases of humans and animals in the territories of both BIH and Turkey.

The Proposal Contract will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Marko Šarović was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

BIH – GERMANY AGREMENT FOR SOCIAL AND EOCNOMIC DEVLEOPMENT OF BIH

 

The Council of Ministers defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on acceptance of technical cooperation projects to contribute to social and economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Agreement represents a follow-up of agreed-to activities of mutual interest, including the improvement of overall bilateral relations through fostering of economic-technical cooperation of the two countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister Igor Crnadak was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

BIH AND TURKEY TO IMPROVE FOREST PROTECTION-RELATED COOPERATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal for conclusion of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the forestry sector, with basics for negotiations, for the purpose to protect this natural resource.

The Agreement would, among other things, intensify cooperation in the area of protection and rehabilitation of the existing forest fund by way of scientific, technical and technologic cooperation and exchange of information, experiences and technologies.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the proposal to the BIH Presidency for further cooperation, and Minister Mirko Šarović was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

EUR 50 MIL. FOR ROADS AND ADDITIONAL EUR 19 MIL. FOR FLOOD RECOVERY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and designated a delegation for negotiations on a Financial Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank for road modernisation project in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, worth EUR 50 million.

The Project includes the construction of new sections and slow lanes, renewal of pavement layer, elimination of so-called black spots, i.e. reconstruction of risky parts, rehabilitation of tunnels and bridges, for the purpose of improvement of transport safety at 35 road section in the Federation of BIH of total length of 290 km.

The total project costs are estimated at EUR 150 million, and would be financed from IFIs funds, out of which EUR 50 million would be secured from the European Investment Bank loan of 20-year repayment term and five year grace period.  

Another Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury was endorsed and delegation designated for negotiations on a Finance Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank for Emergency Assistance and Flood Protection/B Project.

The EUR 19 million worth loan of 30-year repayment term and seven-year grace period was intended for rehabilitation from flood caused damage and for arrangement of flood protection system in Republika Srpska.

The total value of the loan is EUR 74 million, as a Finance Contract between BIH-Republika Srpska and the European Investment Bank for Emergency Assistance and Flood Prevention/A worth EUR 55 million was earlier concluded.

WORK PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITY REPORTS TO FOLLOW EU PRACTICE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Instructions, proposed by the Ministry of Justice, on preparation of annual work programmes and activity reports in the Institutions of BIH, which would follow the procedure and practice of the European Union countries.

The aim of the Instructions is to arrive at a higher quality programming of BIH Institutions’ obligations aimed at making budget savings and improving effectiveness of the Council of Ministers work, including improved output reporting in terms of transparency.

A Pre-draft Instructions was published at the Ministry of Justice web-site in early January, along with an invitation to all BIH Institutions, civil society and citizens to provide their respective remarks and suggestions.

 

TO HARMONISE MATERNITY LEAVE REGULATION WITH LABOUR LAW

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision amending the Decision on ways and procedure for implementation of the right to maternity leave in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, in order to harmonise it with the Labour Law in the BIH Institutions,.

The Decision provides for employees in the BIH Institutions at maternity leave to enjoy the monthly benefits in amount equal to three average salaries received before the start of their maternity leave.

This way, an Opinion of the Ministry of Labour and Veterans and Disabled Welfare was taken into consideration and legal obligation met to solve the issue at the most favourable way for mothers.

 

SUPPLEMENT TO LAW ON CONTROL OF MOVEMNET OF ARMS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security to establish a Work Group to develop a Proposal Law on amendments and supplements to the Law on Control of Movement of Arms and Military Equipment, in order to supplement it and accommodate concerns not addressed by the existing piece of legislation but existing in practice.

The Work Group will prepare the amendments and supplements to the Law on Control of Movement of Arms and Military Equipment by September 30, 2015. Ermin Prešto from the Ministry of Security will chair the Work Group, and members will be representatives of the State-level Ministries of Security and Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, and representatives of the Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH, Entity and Cantonal Ministries of Interior and Brčko District of BIH Police.

 

TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIP OF BIH AND UN

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Joint Programme and Budget Framework of United Nations for Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2015-2019: Framework UN Development Assistance.

The Programme continues and strengthens the partnership between authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and United Nations team in BIH in the areas of economic growth, poverty reduction, reform capacity, including strategic and framework public policies, improvement of accountability system and high quality social service provision.

It is a comprehensive strategic framework programme document identifying 13 outcomes classified into four separate areas of development cooperation between the UN Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and all-level authorities, such as: rule of law and security of citizens, sustainable and equal development and employment, social inclusion, education, social welfare, child protection and health care, and women empowering. According to estimates, a full implementation of the UN Programme will require USD 264,592,034.

This document will be signed by Chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr Denis Zvizdić and Resident Coordinator of UN in BIH Yuri Afanasiev.

 

CoM ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN LIGHT OF UNDERTAKEN INTENRATIONAL OBLIGATIOS

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted three documents for the second round of the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights Situation in BIH, aimed at implementation of international recommendations and further improvement in the area.

The Council of Ministers adopted a Report on presentation of the BIH Report for the second round of the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights Situation in BIH - prepared in compliance with the Annex to UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/21, paragraph 5, considered at November 5, 2014 session in Geneva – along with  both Draft Report, prepared by the Work Group for Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights Situation in BIH, and Comments of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Draft Report of the UN Human Rights Council Work Group.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of BIH Igor Crnadak will report the current human rights situation in BIH before the UN Human Rights Council, on June 6, 2015, and will announce future activities in BIH in this area.

 

CoM REALISED 92% OF CONCLUSIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH realised 92 % of its conclusions in last year, or 460 out of total 498 conclusions, while 38 conclusions remained unimplemented, indicates a Review of CoM conclusions realisation for 2014, considered by the Council of Ministers of BHI, upon a proposal of the Secretariat-General.

The Ministries and other institutions failing to fully implement conclusions of the Council of Ministers are tasked to implement them fully without delay and to intensify their activities in relation to conclusions implementation requiring longer time or cooperation with other institutions.

Future implementation of the Council of Ministers conclusions should be a priority to all Ministries and other institutions, as it is expected to contribute to effectiveness of the Council of Ministers operations.

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