Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 20th Session

PERPARATIONS FOR VIENNA CONFERENCE 

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed prepared projects and proposals to be presented by the BHI delegation at the West Balkans Summit on August 26-27, 2015 in Vienna, with a special emphasis on construction of cross-border bridges in Gradiška and Svilaj.

A support ot the BIH Delegation was granted to insist on projects of construction of the Adriatic-Ionian Motorway though Bosnia and Herzegovina, as eell as the Ioni9an-Adriatic Gas Pipeline also to run though Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Conference is expected to grant support for construction of 400 KV power transmission lines in Serbia-Montenegro-Bosnia and Herzegovina. A need was reiterated for future detailed preparation of energy sector projects. Chairmna of the council of Ministers of BIH dDr Denis Zvizdić is authorised to sign a declaration that hte BIH will continue to work on development of strategic energy sector documents.

In Vienna, the BIH Delegation will support establishment of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office.

The conference will also discuss the topical refugee crisis, and in that regard the Council of Ministers made a conclusion that BIH will comply with all international standards and will provide the expected level of human treatment of refugees who eventually find their way to BIH.

The council of Ministers calls on the European Union and international humanitarian organisations to intensify their assistance to countries most exposed to the refugee wave, first of all to Serbia and Macedonia.

On its side, the Council of Ministers express its readiness to extend all needed assistance, as per its capacities.

The Coordination Body for Migrations is tasked to prepare comprehensive information, to include security risk assessment, as well as BIH capacities assessment in case of amass refugee inflow.

 

INSTITUTIONS’ PUBLIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMME ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, adopted BIH Institutions Public Investment Programme for 2016-2018.

In submitting candidacy of priority projects, all institutions should take care of the current economic situation and should present exclusively priority institution needs with real project value assessments.

The total value of projects included into the BIH Public Investments Programme 2016-2018 is KM 1,882. 68 million, out of which KM one billion and 453.76 million is for capital projects, and KM 418.92 is for institutional-development projects.

The projects valued at KM one billion and 275.51 million add directly to the socio-economic development of, while other projects are valued at KM 607.16 million.

The BIH Institutions Public Investment Programme include priority projects reflecting institutions’ plans and needs, hte implementation of which still wait for funding. The total value of these projects is KM 858.59 million, out of which Km 758.91 million refers to capital projects, and KM 88.68 to institutional-development projects.

 

2016-2018 FRAMEWORK BUDGET DOCUMENT ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers of BIIH considered and adopted a 2016-2018 Framework Budget Document of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Institutions, prepared and proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH.

The 2016-2018 framework Budget Document was developed based on the Global Framework of Fiscal Balance and Policies in BIH for the same period, which sets a framework for each year in amount of KM 950.000.000 and allocation form the Indirect Taxation Administration Single Treasury Account in amount of KM 750.000.000. On adoption of the Global Framework of Fiscal balances and Policies, the Fiscal Council concluded that corrections in respect to either increase or decrease of revenues should be taken into consideration during planning 2017-2019 Global Framework.

A preliminary draft budget 2016 and framework projections 2017-2018, included into this Framework Budget Document of BIH Institutions, represent a realistic and consistent set of presumptions, helping the Council of Ministers of BIH in its decision making process, based on a triennial  mid-term plan, on issues having budgetary implications.

The Framework Budget Document should support the Council of Ministers and BIH Institutions in general, in planning priority policies and expenditure programmes, consistent with approved mid-term macro-economic and fiscal framework.

 

AMENDMENT IN TRANSPORT EMOLUMENTS FOR BIH INSIITUTIONS’ EMPLOYEES

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, a Proposal Law on Amendments of the Law on Salaries and Reimbursements in the BIH Institutions, which creates a basis for new model of accounting of transport emoluments to employees in the BIH Institutions.

The Amendment will serve as a basis for development of a new by-law regulating the way and procedure of obtaining a right to such benefit.

 

PROPOSED FOREIGN CURRENCY LOAN INDEXING BAN

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments of the Law on Consumer Protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming an exclusive ban on loan indexing  in foreign currency, save for  Euro.

A report of the Central Bank of BIH on issues of those indebted under loans contacted with a clause on indexing the liability in Swiss Francs (CHF) gave rise for such legal regulation, sent to the Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under regular procedure.

 

MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVER LICENCES BETWEEN BIH NA MACEDONIA

The Council of Minsters defined Proposal basics for negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of  Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Macedonia on mutual recognition and replacement of driver licences, which will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.

The Agreement regulates the issue of mutual recognition and replacement of driver licences issued by competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia to holders of driver licences legally staying in the territory of other contracting state without taking theoretical and practical exam for driver licence for the motor vehicle category and subcategory as the original driver licences as issued.

The Agreement does not exclude mandatory administrative formalities prescribed by each contracting party for replacement of driver licences, such as filling application, presenting appropriate medical document, payment of fees and others.

An applicant for replacement of driver licence must meet conditions as to age, provided for by the contracting party’s legislation in which the replacement is to take place.

In the time of driver licences replacement, the equivalency of motor vehicles categories and subcategories issued by the contracting parties’ authorities will be recognised based on equivalency tables, annexed to the Agreement.

 

INIITATIVE FOR PARTICIPATION OF BIH POLICE OFFICERS IN UN PEACE MISSION IN HAITI

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Proposal Assessment of Justifiability of participation of police officers from Bosnia and Herzegovina in United Nations Peace Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The Ministry of Security of BIH should launch an initiative before eth BIH Presidency for decision taking on participation of BIH police officers in this peace mission.

The mandate of this UN peace mission in Haiti pertains to establishment of partner relations among local institutions and agencies with UN mission, and development of national capacities. The costs of participation of police officers in this mission are borne by UN, as het organiser.

 

SALARY AND EMOLUMENTS POLICY ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on adopting a salaries and emoluments policy in the BIH Institutions for 2015-2018, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

According to the document, one of main principles of the policy of salaries and emoluments in the BIH Institutions is the principle of reality and fiscal accountability, which takes into consideration the current and expected economic trends, as a basis for defining salary and emoluments levels.

The salary policy presumes harmonisation of relevant regulations in legislative, judicial and executive authorities, with additional analyses of reimbursements in management and steering boards and other work bodies and committees, and proposing of eventual corrections of laws and by-laws.

 

MOVING OF BIH MISSION WITH NATO TO “Z” BUILDING IN BRUSSELS

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers took a decision to approve a multi-year project “Moving of NATO partner states’ missions to NATO ‘Z’ building in Brussels”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked to budget needed funds in its 2016-2018 Framework Budget Document for co-financing of NATO Strategic Investment Project.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs got an approval to formally accede to conditions of financial participation in the “Z” building reconstruction and office space rental for accommodation of BIH Mission in NATO.

NATO member states decided to move NATO HWQ in Brussels into a new building in 2016/17, which is currently in the process of final construction. NATO member states decided to move missions of partner states and NATO aspirant states and others to the “Z” building, and to return the buildings NATO used for accommodation of these missions to their owners.

 

APPROVED PROLONGATION OF TEMPORARY STAY PERMITS IN BIH FOR SYRIAN CITIZENS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, on determining justifiable grounds of humanitarian nature for prolongation of temporary stay of citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Under the decision, a temporary stay originally approved based on relevant decision made last August may be prolonged for a year to Syrian citizens in BIH.

 

IMPROVED POSITION OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN BIH

The Council of Ministers of BH considered and adopted eth Second Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina on implementation of measures and principles defined under the European Charter on Regional or Minority Languages, and tasked the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH to forward the adopted report to the Council of Europe Secretariat for European Charter on Regional or Minority Languages.

The report assesses that BIH authorities have made an effort over the past two years, although the state faced economic problems and serious floods, which affected the whole region.

National minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly incorporated into the society and are not denied rights defined under the European charter of Regional or Minority Languages.

Media have apparently shown openness for national minorities programmes. An issue of funding cultural and other activities is evident, especially in municipalities with budgetary constraints.

 

IMPLEMENTED MORE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM MEASURES IN FIST SIX MONTHS

The Council of Ministers adopted a Semi-Annual Progress Report of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office (Implementation Monitoring of the Revised Action Plan 1-RAP and BIH Public Administration Reform Strategy – January – June 2015).

The Report indicates total realisation of RAP – 1 goals is 63%, as increased relative to 2014, when it was 61%.

The 5 per cent increase was made in the Federation of BIH, meaning the Federation of BIH fulfilled 60 % of planned measures, the same achievement as at the BIH level. The major percentage of fulfilled RAP -1 measures is in Republika Srpska, with 73%, and the least is in the Brčko District – with 57%.

The best results were made in the reform area ‘institutional communication’, where 77% of goals were realised, while the mayor realisation percentage for this area is at the BIH level – 85%.

 

DRAGAN ĆUZULAN APPOINTED PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM COORDINATOR

Upon a proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, the Council of Ministers took a decision on appointing Dragan Ćuzulan for Coordinator of Public Administration Reform under the Office of Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

 

CHANGES IN SUPERVISION BODY FOR STATE STRATEGY FOR WORK ON WAR CRIMES CASES

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Justice of BIH, the Council of Ministers of BH took a decision to amend the decision on a supervision body for implementation of the state strategy for work on war crimes files.

The decision appointed Milan Tegelitja  as a member of the Supervisory Body on behalf of het High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, to replace the pervious member Milorad Novaković; Lejla Čopelj on behalf of the Ministry of Security to replace Aner Hadćimahmutović, and Žarko Lučić on behalf of the Ministry of Finance of RS to replace Dijana Stupar.

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