Press Releases
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its Extraordinary Phone Session
10/15/2019
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted an Action Plan for the European Commission Analytic Report-defined priorities, as an integral part of the EC Opinion on BIH request for the EU membership.
The Action Plan is a comprehensive, whole-state plan document and it contains 729 planned measures for implementation of 115 priorities. The European Commission Analytic Plan sets 115 priorities within political and economic criteria, classified into 33 negotiating chapters, to be dealt with promptly by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions, which will be assessed by the Commission in the next Enlargement package in spring 2020.
The planning exercise included 233 all-level institutions.
Out of 729 measures, 331 will be realised by the BIH Institutions, with 88 of them boing joint measures; 204 measures were planned at the Federation of BIH level, of which 93 are joint measures; 205 measures were planned for the Republika Srpska institutions level, of which 86 joint measures; 118 measures were planned for the level of Brčko District of BIH, of which 61 joint measures; and 132 measures were planned for cantonal level institutions, of which 29 are joint measures.
Among the priorities, 17 of them were concluded to require a defining additional measures, which was assigned to the European integrations work groups within coordination system.
SWITHZERLAND DOANTES EUR 3.8 MILLION FOR PURIFICATION OF WASTE WATERS IN GADIŠKA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and Government of Swiss Confederation, represented by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in connection to approving a financial contribution, - donation in a maximum amount of EUR 3.8 million – for the Waste Waters Collection and Purification Project in Gradiška.
The project aim is to secure the collection, transport and purification of communal waste waters of the city of Gradiška, in an environmentally proper and hygienically satisfactory manner, which would improve lives of citizens and protect environment, especially the river Sava and downstream areas.
The Agreement Proposal with Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
EUR 15 MIL. FOR SARAJEVO PUBLIC TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Contract between Bosnia and Hercegovina and the European Bank for reconstruction and Development (GrCF2 W2) for a EUR 15 million worth Sarajevo Public Transport Project.
The project concerns the procurement of new electric trolleybuses and required spare parts for the aim of improved development of Sarajevo public transport infrastructure, which would increase the capacity and effectiveness of public transport services for citizens, in addition to environmental protection. The project is to be finalised by December 21’2021.
The loan term is 15 years, including a two-year grace period.
The Proposal Contract, accompanied by a platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.
TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO BOOKS FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined and will provide to the BIH Presidency a Proposal Platform for launching a procedure for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to WIPE Treaty from Marrakesh for facilitation of access to published works for blind and visually impaired persons, unable to use printed materials, with the Institute for Intellectual Property Initiative for starting a procedure for ratification of the Treaty.
It would secure an improved availability of published works in formats adjusted to the needs of blind and other persons with visually-related specific needs, thus improving cross-border cooperation and exchange of specific printed materials.
The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted on June 27, 2013, and it forms a part of international treaties on copy rights managed by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). It has a clear humanitarian and social dimension of development, and its main propose is to create a group of mandatory restrictions and exemptions in favour of blind, visually impaired and persons with other difficulties making them unable to use printed materials.
CoM: ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY TOWARDS SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED HARRASMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees-proposed Information on mechanisms for effective prevention and protection from gender-based and sexual at work place in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a Guide for taking effective measures for prevention of gender-based and sexual harassment at work place in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministries and self-governed organisations will take effective measures by the end of 2020 for prevention of gender-based and sexual harassment at work place in the Institutions of BIH, and will adopt and promulgate a resolution on zero-tolerance policy towards work place gender-based and sexual harassment act.
The Civil Service Agency will continue to implement relevant trainings for civil servants in the BIH institutions.
The Gender Equality will provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH an implementation report of related activities by the end of 2021.
RATIFICATION DECISIONS DEFIEND
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined separate proposal ratification decisions as follows: Proposal Decision on Ratification of an Agreement on Funding 2015-2017 Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Activities for 2017 between the European Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro; Proposal Decision on Ratification of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Governed of the United Arab Emirates on Air Traffic between and outside the territories thereof; Proposal Decision on Ratification of a Protocol on defining three-border points between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Republic of Serbia; Proposal Decision on Ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro on implementation of the “2014-2020 Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina was tasked to provide the Proposal Decisions to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the adoption thereof.
CADETS ADMISION TO SIPA
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on establishing a cadets’ admission plan for police agencies at Bosnia and Herzegovina level in 2019.
The Plan provides for employment of eight cadets with the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), the administrative organisation within the Ministry of Security.
TRAINING AND EXCERCISES PLAN FOR ARMED BIH FORCES MEMBERS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information on Training and Exercises Plan of members and units of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces abroad in 2020, which the Ministry of Defence will provide to both the BIH Presidency and Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.
The Plan includes training and exercises at which the BIH Armed Forces members will take part within the existing NATO cooperation programmes, multilateral plans within regional initiatives, as well as bilateral cooperation plans and signed–to agreements and memorandums on defence cooperation.
IMPROVED COOPERATION WITH EMIGRATION LAST YEAR
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report, tabled by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on implementation of an Emigration Cooperation Policy for 2018 and endorsed conclusions towards the strengthening further cooperation.
The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is tasked to set-up a cross-sector body for cooperation with the emigration.
The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees is tasked to urge all-level institutions, on behalf of the Council of Ministers of BIH, to provide their support and cooperation with the Ministry on implementation of the Emigration Cooperation Policy Document.
The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees is obliged to prepare information on the relevance of connecting young people in emigration with Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to prepare a report and brief the Council of Ministers on organisation level of the emigration, as well as on activities of related organisations/associations in emigration.
The Report refers on continued activities on implementation of April 2017 Emigration Cooperation Policy aims, relating to relevant legal system and institutional capacities development, support to emigration and improvement of cooperation, including creation of conditions for a high emigration contribution to BIH development.
A portal was set-up last year for an interactive (online) additional child education in emigration and interactive portal was put in operation for diaspora from Bosnia and Herzegovina www.dijaspora.mhrr,gov.ba , while a diaspora conference was held in Sarajevo. Also a “Mapping BIH Diaspora“ research exercise was finalised, which gave an insight into demographic, sociologic and economic affairs of the emigration in 10 states where the research was conducted.
The “Diaspora for Development” Project was continued; it operates at local level and aims to strengthen capacities for high level service provision, networking and improved cooperation with Diaspora and its inclusion into development plans.
REPORTS ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted separate activity reports for 2018 from the following institutions: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Agency for Development of High Education and Quality Insurance.
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security adopted were an Activity Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina Representatives appointed to an Implementation Monitoring Joint Committee for an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on border-crossings for international transport and Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on border-crossings for borderline traffic for time period between October 16, 2018 and April 15, 2019.
CONSENT TO “STATE PRISON” RULEBOOK
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to the Ministry of Justice-proposed Rulebook on internal organisation of the Institute for Execution of Criminal Sanctions, Detention and Other Measures of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The adoption of the Rulebook meets all conditions for putting the Institute in operation.
HIGHER QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL IN BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry for Civil Affairs-proposed Recommendations for inclusive education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming further development of education policies and improvement of the situation in this area.
The Recommendations refer to capacities increase for creation of an inclusive environment, improvement of teaching competences, development of inclusive education support system, in addition to monitoring and evaluation of inclusive education, redefining of enrolment policy, especially in secondary schools, as well as formalisation of cross-sector and cross-institutional cooperation in the area.
The Ministry for Civil Affairs will provide the Recommendations to education authorities and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina for further actions, so as to include the Recommendations-proposed activities into their respective annual work programmes.
The Council of Ministers points at a need for responsible education authorities and agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure a required level of human and other resources for the implementation of the BIH inclusive education recommendations-related activities, to the end of improvement of inclusive education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with relevant recommendations from the for Innovations, IT Society and Social Policy Sub-Committee and Committee for Stabilisation and Accession between the European Commission and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
WB/IMF CONSTITUENCY MEETING IN BIH IN JUNE 2020
The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted holding of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund Constituency meeting in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in June 2020.
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