Council of Ministers od BIH Holds Its 37th Session

MINISTY OF JUSTICE RELATED PROPOSAL LAWS ADOPTED 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Laws prepared by the Ministry of Justice, namely:

-          Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Administrative Procedure;

-          Proposal Law on Humanitarian Agencies registered at the level of Bosnia dn Herzegovina;

-          Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on work in  Institutions; of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

-          Proposal Law on Volunteering in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

-          Proposal Law on Amendments dn Supplements to the Law on Litigation before the Court of BIH;

-          Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on BIH Attorney’s Office;

The Ministry of Justice will, taking into consideration objections and suggestions tabled by Minsters at the session,  provide revised Proposal Laws to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under basic legislative procedure.

 

EMPLOYMENT FO BIH CITIZENS IN SLOVENIA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement for Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Slovenia on employment of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and on a Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Protocol on Implementation of the Agreement.

This is way to create conditions for a more effective implementation of the Agreement and accompanying Protocol, which enable legal employment of BIH citizens in the Republic of Slovenia and prevents irregular labour migration, which should take place following amendments of Slovenian legislation dealing with labour migrations and foreigners’ work engagement.

The Proposal Basics and Protocol will be provided to the BIH Presidency for decision taking on starting needed administrative procedure, and the Minister of Civil Affairs was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

BIH NERP ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a National Emission reduction Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH NERP) and authorised the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to provide the Plan to the Energy Community Secretariat by December 31, 2015.

This way, Bosnia and Herzegovina has fulfilled timely its obligation toward the Energy Community, for the first time, and more importantly, the NERP adoption creates preconditions for emissions reduction from thermal power plants boilers and thereby decreased the adverse impacts to human and environmental health.

The National Emissions Reduction Plan for BIH refers to reduction of sulphur dioxide, azote oxides and solid particles emission from big combustion facilities in BIH.

Other than representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Energy Community Secretariat, the Plan development included experts form Power Utilities of BIH and Republika Srpska and relevant Entity Ministries, which gave their respective consent to the text Plan.

 

TO REMOVE STALEMATES IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH WTO

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Negotiating Team for accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the current state of affairs with negotiations and future activities programme, so that BIH would finalise tis activities required for accession to the WTO by the end of next year.

The negotiating team will continue its activities in accordance with the programme presented under the “Road Map” for accelerated finalisation of negotiations, of which the Council of Minsters of BIH will be up-dated regularly.

The Council of Ministers of BIH by the Road Map adoption wants to remove obstacles in negotiations with the WTO which happened two years ago due to stalemate in internal reform implementation.

 

 

BIH TURNS BACK TO TRACK OF REFORM

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information on findings and assessments of the European Commission from its 2015 Report and the European Union Enlargement Strategy, and tasked the Directorate for European Integrations to prepare action plan forms for priority tasks implementation indicated in the Report for BIH.

This Information says that that the European Commission in its Enlargement Package for 2015, consisting of the Enlargement Strategy and EU Aspirant Country Reports, indicated that the BIH moved back to the reform track and started solving outstanding priorities in the European Union integrations process. 

Compared to the previous report, the Commission assessed as positive the taking effect of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, adoption of Reform Agenda and strategic judicial and anti-corruption documents, adoption fo Framework Trade Policy and EU permission for export of thermally processed milk. The report also noted improvements in business environment, especially facilitated entry into market and obtaining civil construction permits, and certain progress in energy market liberalisation.

The Council of Ministers of BIH continues reforms in public administration, judiciary, fight against corruption and organised crime, freedom of expression, functional market, freedom of movement of goods, services and people and capital, public procurement, customs and taxation, protection of intellectual property, employment, and social policy, as well as education and research.

 

IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY OF ARMED FORCES OF BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took several decisions with accompanying information on approval of multi-year projects aimed at maintaining a minimum operative abilities and readiness of the Armed Forces of BIH, risk reduction on undertaking extremely complex field tasks, training and action in wider society.

A decision to approve a multi.-year project “Securing and improving helicopter operative use of the Armed Forces of BIH 2016-2025” envisaged purchase of 12 new helicopters, general overhaul and maintenance of usable helicopters. The estimated project value is KM 300,000,000.00.

A decision was taken to approve a multi-year project “Securing and improving of operative use of motor vehicles of the Armed Forces of BIH 2016-2018”. The project envisages purchase of 191 motor vehicles of total value of KM 21,211,000.00.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve multi-year project “Education and training of aviation officers 2016-2024”, as an analyses showed very unfavourable age structure of the existing Armed Forces staff, with pilots average age of 42. Almost all current crew is to retire from the Armed Forces in next 10 years, and as the Armed Forces of BIH have no a aviation staff training centre, pilots are training though partnership with other countries. The KM 7,828,200.00 worth project envisages education of total 39 young pilots, lower-ranked officers of the Armed Forces of BIH.

A decision was taken on a multi-year project “Procurement of equipment for aiding civilian authorities in natural and man-made disasters 2016-2020”, in amount of KM 8,819,275.00. The project plans procurement of specific equipment for fighting natural and man-made accidents, including equipment for life saving of people and saving of material goods, auxiliary equipment, standard engineering equipment, as well as standard intendant HTZ equipment and medical equipment for rescuing operations.

Funding of the multi-year projects will be regulated by special decisions of the Council of Ministers of BIH though budget procedures, pending on sources of financing.

 

CONTINUED ACTIVITIES ON IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS OF ROMA POPUALTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on activities of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Roma Decade 2005-2015.

The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees is authorised to take an active part in continued activities faimed at integration and improvement of living conditions of Roma by way of multi-beneficiary IAP, of which the Council of Ministers of BIH  will be up-dated.

In 2011-2013, EUR five million was secured, and in end 2013 the first phase implementation started, worth EUR 2.5 million. Bosnia and Herzegovina budgets regularly each year within the Roma Decade KM three million for Roma needs.

The results of a revised Action Plan for Roma Education, adopted in 2013, is the increase enrolment of Roma children to primary, secondary and tertiary education, while notable less children leave school.

Total 475 Roma went through a Roma Enrolment Programme, which represents a step forward in the process, although needs appeared to be much higher.

The Roma Housing Programme resulted in constructed or reconstructed 740 housing units, and more than 1.000 Roma families were beneficiaries of infrastructure projects, which were realised in 60 municipalities with total KM 21 million invested, including IPA funds.

A progress has been made in health care of Roma population, where improvements were noted in immunisation processes of Roma children, as well as in the reproduction health and maternity care programmes, including education of Roma NGOs, and introduction of Roma families into the regular BIH health care system.

 

 

 

FIGHTING HUMMAN TRAFFICKING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, an Action Plan for Fight against Human Trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2016-2019 with more than 100 activities to be implemented by competent institutions of BIH in the next for years.

The action Plan is strategically focused to improvement of support system for combating human trafficking, effective criminal prosecution for human trafficking and related crimes, prevention for human trafficking by risk reduction and effective protection and assistance of victim’s, and strengthening of partnership and cooperation among stakeholders.

It is a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary plan the realisation of which includes relevant State, Entity Brčko District, and Cantonal institutions.

 

PROLONGED VALIDITY OF REGUALTION ON ID PRICES

 

On a proposal of the Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency (IDEEA), the Council of Ministers of BIH took a regulation on amendments of Regulation on prices of identity documents, thus prolonging effect of the current regulation by June 30, 2016.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs and IDEEA, should in cooperation with relevant institutions, prepare and provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH proposal systemic solution of the issue.

 

FREE OF CHARGE CERTIFICATIONS INSTEAD OF STICKERS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH concerning problems with supplying stickers to vehicle registration competent bodies.

The IDEA was tasked to secure issuance of certificate in the process of vehicle registration through tis IT system; the certificate to replace stickers after supplies of these run out will be free of charge.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked to instruct on procedure upon exhausted supplies of stickers for vehicle registration.

The Ministry and Agency are tasked to provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH a proposal decision on expert work group to assess a possibility for annulling stickers and using of other methodology, using experiences form the EU and neighbouring countries.

 

TO TIGHTEN ECOLOGIC CRITERIA FOR CAR REGISTRATION AND IMPORT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and endorsed an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH for amendment and supplement of a decision on lowest technical requirements for new and used vehicles in car type homologation and individual car homologation, and tasked the Ministry of Communications and Transport to take needed activities and propose appropriate solution to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

The Initiative seeks an urgent limitation of used car import not fulfilling minimum EURO 4 emission gas standards, introduction of obligatory eco test in car technical inspection an a series of other measures aimed at pollution reduction.

 

 

KM 2 MILLION FOR FUND FOR RETURN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, on reallocation of KM 2,000,000.00 form the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees budget to the Fund for Return of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The funds intended are for realisation of joint projects by relevant State nad Entity Ministries, Brčko District Government and Fund for Return of BIH for carrying out rights form the Dayton agreement Annex VII, to be approved by the Committee for Refugees and Displaced Persons of BIH.

 

CO-FINANCING OF 2017 EUROEPAN WINTER OLYMPIC YOUTH FESTIVAL

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve KM 400,000.0 form current reserves from 2015 Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for co-financing of the European Winter Olympic Youth festival 2017, to be organised by Cities of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo.

 

APPOINTMENTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed members of the Steering Board of the Centre for Information and Recognition of High Education Documents (CIP) Helena Lončar and Danijel Vidović, form Croat people; Aida Durić and Sead Maslo, from Bosniak people; and Branislav Đogović from Serbian people and Ivana Novaković, form other constitutive peoples.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on releasing from duty Dir4ector of the Directorate for Economic Planning Ljerka Marić because of early age retirement.

Also, the Council of Ministers appointed Zoran Zeljko for acting Director of the Directorate for Economic Planning until appointment of a new Manger.

The Council of Ministers took a decision on release of Nataša Grubiša from duty of Manger of the BIH Agency for Drugs and Medical Aids of BIH.

Simultaneously, the Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Aleksandar Zolak for acting Manager of the Agency for drugs and medical aids until appointment of a new Manager.

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