Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 176th Session

STATE ACTIVITY PROGRAMME SUPPORTED WITH EUR 71.2 MIL. BY EU 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for conclusion of an Agreement on Financing 2018 BIH State Activity Programme, between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers Directorate for European integrations.

The Agreement defines the framework for financing the State Activity Programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2018, of the total estimated expenses amount EUR 72,185,445, of which the maximum contribution by the European Union is EUR 71,282,832, and the remaining funds of EUR 902,614 will be secured from the BIH Institutions Budget.

The programme provides support to the economic, social and territorial development, including political reforms and progressive harmonisation of the areas with the acquis.

The Agreement implementation term is 12 years, and the term of operative implementation is six years as at taking effect thereof, while individual contracts and implementation agreements are to be concluded within three year time.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Platform to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Director of the Directorate for European Integrations was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.

 DRAFT DEVELOPMENT-INVESTMENT PROGRAMEE TO 2022 ENDORSED

 The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed 2020-2022 Draft Public Investments/Development-Investment Programme of BIH Institutions.

After BIH Institutions up-date their data on projects, in line with newly-developed changes, including changes made in the process of Drafting Law on Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury send the Draft Public Investments/Development-Investment Programme of BIH Institutions to the Council fo Ministers fo BIH for adoption.

The Draft Programme includes data on total 244 projects of total value of KM 3 billion and 761, 19 million, of which KM 3.4 billion refer to investments to capital projects. The value of the projects directly contributing to socio-economic development is KM 2.7 billion.

The projects currently in the process of implementation worth KM one billion and 189 million, and are financed from domestic sources, though the Budget and own funds, as well as from abroad through loans and grants.

 UNIVERSITIES AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS IN BIH TO BE ENABLED TO COOPERATE WITH CERN

 The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for negotiations for conclusion of on an Agreement on International Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the Area of High Energies Physics between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

This would enable universities and other scientific institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to directly sign cooperation protocols and programmes with CERN in the area of high energies physics. It practically enables support to CERN research projects, for which BIH scientific institutes and universities have specialised expertise, including the area of experimental and theoretic physics, acceleration and detectors. Scientists, engineers and university students from Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfilling criteria for application, may apply for attending different schools with CERN, as well as the summer student programme.

The Proposal Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister for Civil Affairs was proposed for the BIH signatory of the Agreement.

 BIH AND UK BOOST THEIR COOPERATION IN INTENRATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT

 The Council of Ministers of BIH defined proposal Platform for negotiations for conclusion of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on International Road Transport, thus fulfilling legal preconditions for arranging the area with international standards.

The Agreement deals with the issues of international transport of passengers and goods between the territories of the contracting parties or in transit through their respective territories, as well as the transport of third country goods by vehicles registered at the territory of the one contracting party from/to the territory of the other contracting party.

The Draft Platform will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport was proposed for the BIH signatory of the Agreement.

 ASSOCIATIONS’ PROJECTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST TO GET MORE EFFECTIVE FINANCING SYSTEM

 The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Rulebook on Criteria for Associations’ Financing/Co-Financing of Projects of Public Interest Implemented by Associations and Foundations.

The BIH Institutions are thus set-up unique, transparent and effective system funding, co-funding, monitoring and effects evaluation of associations and foundations-implemented projects of public interest.

The Rulebook removes deficiencies in the grant management processes with the BIH Institutions, in accordance with recommendations of the BIH Institutions Audit Office. It also provides for funding and co-funding of associations and foundations projects to be based on the principles of planning and related public calls and equal treatment of applicants to public call.

 ECONOMIC GROWTH OVER 3%          

 The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a document titled Economic Trends – 2018 report, indicating that BIH made in the reported period of time an economic growth higher of 3 per cent, maintaining last year’s growth level.

The economic growth was made due to increases within all GDP categories, according to the Directorate for Economic Planning document.

The most significant contribution as made in the private consumption segment, while positive contribution to the economic growth was realised in investments domain with 7.3 % registered growth. Preliminary data show, on the other side, the export and import rates were equalised, and the foreign trade part in economic growth was notably smaller than in year before.

The physical volume of industrial production was increased for 1.6%, where the major contribution was made in the electric power generation sector.

The unemployment rate in BIH, with an average figure of 451,700 was 7.7% less compared to the year before.

The average net salary in 2018 was KM 879 with nominal 3.3% increase rate, relative to 2017. The average pension was KM 382, with nominal increase rate of 5.9% relative to year before.

The main features of BIH fiscal sector in 2018 were the growth of total tax revenues, as well as increase of contributions and decrease of public dent. In 3018, BIH totally collected KM 1.5 billion public revenues based on indirect and direct taxes, contributions and other revenues, which is 7.3% compared oto the year before. Also total public debt was decreased for 2.1 %, compared to 2017, and it was Km 11.1 billion, of which KM 8.3 billion was foreign debt.

 GIZ SUPPORT TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM

 The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed the conclusion of an Implementation agreement between the Public Administration reform Coordinator’s Office and Deusche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit for the BIH institutions Capacitating Programme – Phase III, with EUR 3.750.000.

The Implementation Agreement will enable for selected public institutions to improve the application of public administration principles for transparent, accountable, effective and efficient provision of public services, thus contributing the public administration reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The institutions which are beneficiaries of the Programme Phase III are the Public Administration reform Coordinator’s Office (PARCO), directorate for Euroepan Integrations (DEI), Public procurement Agency (AJN), Appeals Office (URŽ), and Civil Service Agency (ADS).

 INCREASED NUMBER OF PFREE OF CHARGE PAGES ISUED IN ZOSPI BASED PROCEDURES

 The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Justice-proposed Decision amending the Decision on costs of copying required information, compliant to the Law on Freedom of Information (ZOSPI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The amended Decision increases the number of pages issued by the BIH Institutions free of charge, acting upon the Law on Freedom of Information in BIH, from the current 10 to 20 pages, thus amending the decision with ZOSPI.

 PROJECT FINANCING UNDER PUBLIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

 The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information on expenditures in 2018, for funding projects included into the 2018-2020 Public Investment/Development-Investment Programme of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to be published at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH web site.

Information gives a breakdown of collective realisation of finances in 2018 for 118 projects in implementation, planned for the last year, of total value of KM 1 billion and 141.46 million.

Last year, 33 projects were finalised, while the implementation of 85 projects, worth KM 1 billion was continued. Simultaneously, the implementation of 27 projects, categorised as waiting, went to the implementation phase, in addition to five subsequently applied projects, also finalised last year.

The 2018-2020 Public Investments Programme includes 251 projects of total value of KM 1 billion and 992.52 million, of which KM 1 billion and 309.51 million refers to 154 projects in realisation, and KM 683.03 million refers to 93 projects in waiting.

 LABOUR MARKET POLICY GUIDELINES PLAN ADOPTED

 The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on adoption of a Labour Market Policy Guidelines Plan and Active Employment Measures in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2019, drafted by the BIH Agency for Labour and Employment in cooperation with the Entity Employment Bureaus and Brčko District of BIH Employment Bureau.

The document represents guidelines of Labour market policies and active measures for employment, planned by employment-responsible institutions in 2019 with an aim to improve the quality of labour market supply, inciting demand for labour force.

According to the Plan adopted in 2019, activities provided for deal with strengthening of mediation role of bureaus and employment services, continuation of reforms and increase of labour market effectiveness. They include focusing at active policy measures and services directed at shortening of unemployment periods, in addition to continuous increase of competitiveness and employing individuals from a job seekers list, with support to employers. These programme activities intend to increase employment figures in BIH.

 GREEN LIGHT TO BIH ACESS TO DARIAH ERIC INFRASTRUCTURE

 The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an initiative by the Ministry of Civil Affairs for accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Dariah-Eric Infrastructure, aiming development and support to BIH research in the area of art and humanities.

The accession enables researchers to find and use digital research data from throughout Europe, to exchange knowledge and research practice from different areas, and to follow the best applicable research standards.

The Dariah-Eric is na international infrastructure set-up in 2014 by the European Commission. It gathers 17 states having a facilitated access and use of all European digital sources for research in the area of art and humanities, including digital objects, such as text, image, sound and video.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will take needed activities for BIH accession to Dariah-Eric Infrastructure.

 IMPLEMENTED OR IN IMPLEMENTATION PHASE 86% MEASURES UNDER CHILDREN ACTION PLAN

 The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report on implementation of a comprehensive Children Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to be published at the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees web site.

According to the Report, out of 127 planned measures classified in eight specific goals, implemented were 72 or 57%, while 37 or 29% measures are in the process of implementation, and 18 or 14% have not been implemented.

The best results in the Action Plan measures implementation were achieved in the “To Make Education System Attractive and Available for Child/Pupil Capacitates through High Quality Child Tailored Comprehensive Services”, where out of planned 12 measures 10 were fully implemented, and the two remaining were implemented in their major parts.

The Report indicates an excellent evaluation for the cooperation of government and non-government sector in measures implementation at the local level.

The Council of Ministers extended the Action Plan term to the end of 2019, and a new children action plan of BIH should have been drafted by the end March 2020, to be harmonised to UN Committee for Child Rights recommendations.

 FOOD SEFSATEY REPORT ADOPTED

 The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a 2018 Food Safety Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina Report, drafted by the BIH Food Safety Agency, and took several conclusions for the aim of continuation of monitoring and strengthening of relevant controls.

According to the report, total 85,601 samples collected were processed last year, of which 4,007 or 4.68% samples were inappropriate.

Total 66.035 food samples were tested to microbiological parameters, among which 794 or 1.20% were inappropriate according to the existing regulations, most of them from the category of cattle meat and poultry and wild poultry, as well as from the sugar category.

In 2018, BIH registered total 820 cases of poisoning, where the food was found to be the cause/transmitter. The most often causes were Salmonellosis and Toxiinfection/Intoxication alimentaris.

Last year analysed were 14,788 samples of drinking water, in which 3,108 samples were found not to be in accordance with the regulations in force. Also 10,795 laboratory drinking water analyses to microbiological parameters were made, where 2,234 results were not in accordance with existing regulations in BIH. The most of them, 57.6% of inappropriate drinking water samples were from individual water supply sources (wells, cistern, pumps), while the percentage of inappropriate samples from public water supply pipes was 13.3%.

 REALISED 85% COUNCIIL OF MINISTERS CONCLUSIONS

 Ministries of BIH, Institutions and Bodies of the Council of Ministers of BIH realised 156 out of total passed 183 conclusions or 85%, and 26 conclusions were not realised, reads the Council of Ministers’ Conclusions Realisation Review, prepared by the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH; the subject conclusions were adopted in January 31- March 31, 2019 time period.

Ministries and other institutions are tasked to analyse their activities to date in connection to the conclusions realisation and to clearly indicate the reasons of non-implementation of unrealised conclusions, and to report it to the Council of Ministers within 30 day deadline.

It was concluded that the future implementation of the Council of Ministers conclusions should be prioritised,

 CONSENT FOR APPOINTMENT OF DEFENCE ATACHÉ OF SLOVAKIA

 The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for appointment of Colonel Milan Mindarek to the post of Defence Attaché of the Slovak republic for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with his office in Sarajevo. (end)