Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 115th Session

TEMPORARY FINANCING OF BIH ISNTITUTIONS 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia  took a decision on temporary financing of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January-March 2015, because the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly both chambers,  competent for the adoption of Budget, under the Law on Financing, have not been established yet.

The temporary financing for January-March 22015 is defined in amount of KM 237,500,000.000 and it levels a quarter of funds approved for financing of the BIH Institutions, in accordance with the Law on Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the decision to prevent interruption in foreign debt servicing and continuation of financing of multi-year projects and other commitments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including payment of salaries and allowances to state institutions’ employees.

 

ADDITIONAL 10 COUNTRIES INCLUDED INTO NO-VISA REGIME

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on visas for 10 new countries whose citizens are freed fromobligation ot obtain visa for entry, exit and transit though BIH.

Besides inclusion of six countries from the White (Schengen) list, in accordance with EU legislation (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, Seychelles, St. Christopher and Nevis), the non-visa regime now covers Azerbaijan, Bahrein, Oman, and United Arab Emirates due to developed economic interests with these countries and fostering of business contacts.

The BIH non-visa regime up to 90 days include 72 countries, whose citizens are freed from obligation to obtain visa for entry, exit, transit and stay in the territory of BIH. Citizens of additional 14 counties are freed form visa obligation with whom BIH has concluded an international contract on freeing form visa regime for holders of certain types of passports. On the grounds of reciprocity and business interests of BIH, citizens of five states, holders of official or diplomatic passport are also freed form obligation to obtain visa.

 

CUSTOMS TARIFF FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL FOREIGN TRADE

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on defining customs tariffs for year 2015, harmonised with the EU Combined Nomenclature.

Fulfilling the obligation in terms of harmonisation of BIH merchandise nomenclature with that the EU, enables fulfilment of conditions for more successful foreign trade operations between BIH economic subjects and entrepreneurs from CEFTA signatories, i.e. EU member states.

 

PEPARATION FOR BIH PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH,  took a Decision on preparatory activities for the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Council of Europe (CE) for May-December 2015, which presumes preparation of programmes for conferences, high-level meetings, as well as cultural and promotional events.

Simultaneously, the Council accepted the official logotype of BIH Presidency in the Council of Europe, and approved a budget worth KM 370,000.00.

The Council of Ministers designated a cross-sector team for coordination of Presidency-in-office, to be comprised of representatives of state-level Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Civil Affairs, Justice, Security and Human Rights and Refugees, Finance and Treasury, and from the Entity Governments and Brčko District Government. These institutions will provide names of their respective representatives to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Numerous meetings both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Strasbourg are planned to be held in the course of BIH presidency in the Council of Europe, including conferences, high-level meetings and a series of promotional and cultural events, where Bosnia and Herzegovina will be presented to the Council of Europe.

 

BIH AND CROATIA TO AGREE ON RIGHT TO WATER FORM PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SIYSTEMS AT BORDER

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Contract between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on rights and obligations for use of water from public water supply systems cut across by state border.

Signing the Contract, BIH and Croatia will arrange their mutual right and obligations and responsibilities for use of water in the territory of one state from the sources in the territory of other state.

The Ministry of foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the Proposal Contract to the Presidency of Bosna and Herzegovina for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is proposed for the BIH signatory of the Contract.

 

DENMARK AS DONOR FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM PROJECTS

 

Upon a proposal of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office, the Council of  Ministers defined a Proposal Annex V to Memorandum of Understanding between the Division for International Development, represented by the Embassy of the United Kingdom in BIH,  Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation, represented by the Embassy of Sweden in BIH, Ministry for Development and Cooperation of Netherlands, represented by the Embassy of Netherlands in BIH and Delegation of the European Union in BIH (donors), and Council of Ministers of BIH, Government of the Federation of BIH, Government of Republika Srpska, Government of the Brčko District of BIH, represented by Prime Ministers, and Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH, for establishment of a Public Administration Reform Fund, with basics for its conclusion.

The signing of the Memorandum enables continued participation of a new donor, Government of Denmark, in public administration reform projects in BIH. So, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide total EUR 2 million in 15 and 2016, EUR 1 million each year, for the implementation of approved and new projects,

The Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office will provide the proposal Annex V to the BIH Presidency, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH is proposed as the signatory.

 

 

 

JAPANESE EUR 2 MILLION GRANT FOR FLOOD PREVENTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Note Agreement – Exchange of Notes – between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Japan for 2014 on realisation of a grant worth EUR 2 million, prepared by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The Government of Japan approved to Bosnia and Herzegovina a grant for procurement of equipment produced by Japanese SMEs for prevention of floods and other natural disasters, as well as tools for meteorological and medical equipement.

The Grant beneficiaries are three state Ministries, namely the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Ministry of Security and Ministry of Civil Affairs, with allocations to Entity and Brčko Distict beneficiaries.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs is proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

KM 150,000.00 FOR PUBLIC ADMINSITARTION REFORM

 

Upon a proposal of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to allocate KM 150,000.00 for co-financing of the Public Administration reform Fund from the Budget of the BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for 2015-2017.

The support to the Public Administration Reform Fund will accelerate the Public Administration Reform Strategy implementation, thereby it will step-up the reforms in the field.

The funds will be provided for in annual budgets of BIH Institutions, as well as in the Special Purpose Programme.

 

MANAGER OF AGENCY FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT RELEASED FROM DUTY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on appointment of Manager of the Agency for Labour and Employment Adnan Delić to other post, and took a resolution on his release form duty, as at November 11, 2014.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is tasked to undertake procedures for selection of Manager of the Agency for Labour and Employment in BIH, in accordance with the Law on Ministerial Appointments, Appointments of by Council of Ministers and Other Appointments in BIH, and Law on Agency for Labour and Employment in BIH, Also, in compliance with these legislation, the Ministry will undertake appropriate procedure for selection of  Deputy Manager of the Agency for Labour and Employment n in BIH, to take office on April 15 next year.

The Minister of Civil Affairs and Deputy Minister will, upon a finalisation of vacancy procedure in the Council of Ministers, propose candidates for Manger and Deputy Manager of the Agency for Labour and Employment in BIH.

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