Council of Ministers Holds Its 95th Session

NEW ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND FINANCING TERRORISM LAW ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY 

The Council of Ministers of BIH unanimously defined a Proposal Law on prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorist activities, thus regulating the area pursuant to international standards.

The new text low incorporates a large part of suggestions and objections to earlier text law, which did not receive Parliamentarian support and was not consistent with recommendations of the Expert Board of the Council of Europe for Evaluation of Fight against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL)

The Law defines the role of Financial-Intelligence Division (FOO), as a central unit to receive, analyse and forward information, data and documentation on transactions suspected to be in connection with money-laundering and financing of terrorist activities.

The adoption of the law prevents negative labelling of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the area of anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism.

The Ministry of Security will provide the Proposal Law to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for consideration under urgent procedure.

 

SUPPORT TO FLOOD-PROTECTION PROJECT ON DRINA RIVER        

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Financing Agreement (Drina River Flood-Protection Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Association for Development (IDA) in total amount of USD 24 million.

Out of these funds, 57.5 per cent was allocated to Republika Srpska, and 42.5 per cent to the Federation of BIH: these funds will be used for an increase of flood-protection on the River Drina in the area of Bijeljina, and in Bosansko-Podrinjski Canton in the vicinity of Goražde.

The repayment term is 25 years, including grace period of 5 years and with concessional IDA terms.

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

 

“RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT” PROJECT SUPPORTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and appointed a negotiating team for conclusion of a Loan Agreement  between Bosnia and Herzegovina and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for “rural Business Development” Project.

The purpose of the Project is to assist small agricultural producers (farmers) in BIH to shift from the life subsistence sufficient production to a commercial farming. The expected effects of the project are the increase by 30 per cent of average household revenues from agriculture and increase of employment among women and youth by 10 per cent.

The loan value is USD 5,350,000.00, with allocation to the Federation of BIH, and repayment term of 25 years, five-year grace period and 3.25 per cent interest rate.

 

 

 

 

 

SOLVING THE LEGAL-LABOUR STATUS OF BIH CITIZENS FIRED FORM WORK IN CROATIA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH received Information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue of solving the legal-labour and social status of BIH citizens employed in the Republic of Croatia, and fired form work in time period between 1991 and 1995.

The Council of Ministers of BIH formed an inter-sector work group, comprised of representatives of state Ministries of Justice, Human Rights and Refugees, Civil Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Office for Legislation of the Council of Ministers. The Work Group will prepare for the Council of Ministers appropriate conclusions aimed seeking new possibilities for the issue-.solving.

The Council of Ministers of BIH made the conclusion after all possibilities of a diplomatic manner of solving the issue of the workers were exhausted.

 

CONSENT TO MEETING OF SUB-COMMITTEE FOR TRANSPORT, ENERGY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on holding soling the sixth meeting of the Sub-Committee for Transport, Energy, Environment and Regional Development, in Brussels, on June 3-5, 2014, with the suggestions presented at the session.

The proposed agenda was endorsed, the BIH Delegation appointed, and a discussion paper was adopted, which all BIH Delegation members are due to adhere to on their elaborations.

The sixth meeting of the Sub-Committee for Transport, Energy, Environment and Regional Development will be focused to road transit traffic, hazardous material transport related legislation, inter-Entity traffic, transport strategy, main SEE regional transport network, and projects of the Corridor V c, Banja Luka-Doboj Motorway and Mostar By-Pass, road transport of passengers and cargo, environment, local and regional development, energy strategy and electric energy market, energy safety, BIH Power Transmission, climate changes in the context of the EU climate policy, and adjustment of BIH related legislation and regional cooperation.

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH 2013 REPORT ADOPTED

 

Today’s session adopted the Council of Ministers of BIH 2013 Activities Report, which says that total 45 sessions were held, with 1,011 agenda items considered and 978 conclusions realised.

In carrying out its rights and duties, the Council of Ministers of BIH in 2013 defined total 30 law proposals, provided to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH. The Council of Ministers adopted 186 resolutions and five analyses, defied 75 proposal contracts, agreements, protocols and memorandums and 92 proposal basics for conclusion of international treaties. Consents were granted to 58 regulations and 84 draft decisions on ratification of international treaties.  Total 180 reports were adopted from various sectors, and 285 answers to deputies’ questions and initiatives with 651 answers to delegates’ questions were provided.

 

PARLIMENATARIAN ASSEMBLY AND BIH PRESIDENCY TO RECEIVE REPORT ON PARTICIPATION OF BIH MEMBERS IN PEACE KEEPING MISISONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  prepared by the Ministries of Defence and Security, on participation of the Armed Forces, police officers and civil servants of Bosnia and Herzegovina in peace-keeping missions for the time period between July 1, 2013 until December 31, 2013, and will forward it to the BIH Presidency and Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

In the peace-keeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) and in NATO-led peace-keeping operations of the International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan (ISAF) in the second half of 2913, the contingent of the BIH Armed Forces numbered 84 members, and currently there are deployed 58 members.

The UN Peace-Keeping Police Operations in Liberia, Cyprus and Sudan (South Sudan and Abyei) carried out in the time period from July 1, 2013 until December 31, 2013, involved total 68 police officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

BIH EXPORT IN INCREASE

 

The Council of Ministers of  BIH received a document titled “Economic Trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2013 Annual Report”, prepared by the Directorate for Economic Planning of BIH, which concludes a slight economic growth of 1.5 per cent.

Last year’s growth was realised primarily by an increase of exports of 6.9 per cent and of industrial production by 6.7 per cent, while domestic demand marked a slight increase, with a modest import increase of 1.4 per cent.

Despite unfavourable business environment, the growth was conditioned upon a recovery of electric power production, processing industry, tourism, retail sales, and public works in road infrastructure.

Last year’s export was KM 8.4 billion, and it represented an increase of 6.6. per cent, while import was 15.KM 1 billion, and was decreased by 0.5 per cent in relation to the last year.

 

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH REALISED 90 PER CENT OF CONCLUSIONS IN Q1  2014

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH realised 90 per cent of conclusions, taken in the first quarter of 2014, indicates a Review of Implementation of the Council of Ministers of BIH Conclusions, prepared by the Council of Ministers General-Secretariat and considered at today’s session.

The Council of Ministers took 102 conclusions in January-March 2014, out of which 92 were realised by Ministries and relevant agencies.

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