Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina holds Its 113th Session

BIH IN SEE TRANSPORT COMMUNITY 

The Council of Ministers  of BIH defined a Proposal Contract on Accession to the Transport Community of South Eastern Europe, this unblocking the funds for four infrastructure projects in the country, approved in Trieste, worth more than KM 500 million.

The creation of the Transport Community for road, railway, internal waterway and maritime traffic enables the development of mentioned transport network between the European Union and SEE countries.

The Proposal contract will be sent to the BIH Presidency.

 

OMBUDSMEN TO WORK ON HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming the strengthening of the role of this institution in human rights promotion, creation of conditions for establishment of a higher quality dialogue with NGO sector, academic community, international community, as well as for the improvement of financial independency.

The Amendments, among other things, enable Ombudsmen to perform duties, in accordance with Article 17 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Fierce, Unhuman or Humiliating Sanctions or Procedures, within preventive mechanism for prevention of torture and other fierce, inhumane or humiliating sanctions or procedures. This way, Ombudsmen may, among other things, at any time and without prior announcement, visit places where the individuals detained or having limited freedom of movement are held, including places where some groups are accommodated or held.

For the purpose of protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms, the Institution of Ombudsman will keep regular and thematic consultations with civil society organisations, international agencies and professional bodies and academic community.

The Law Supplements define for the approved budget to secure functional independence of the Institution of Ombudsman and its functioning without additional conditioning, while is in line with recommendations of the Sub-Committee for Accreditation of the International Coordination Committee. The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees will provide the Proposal Law to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under regular legislative procedure.

 

MORE LIBERL VIZA REGIME IN BIH FOR TOURISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Supplements to the Decision on Visas, which is expected to contribute to further development of tourism, entrepreneurship and economy in our county.

This will enable citizens of the states with which BIH has in force a visa regime to enter BIH only having passport, without a need to obtain visas for entry, exit, transit or stay in the territory of BIH, or if in possession of multiple entry visa or stay permit issued in countries-signatories of the Schengen agreement of EU or USA. The stay on this basis may be as long as 90 days in any 180 time period, provided that a single stay in BIH may not exceed 30 days.

 

BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT FOR FIRST HALF OF 2017 ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on Budget Execution of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for January-June 2017.

Total realised revenues, receivables and finances to disposal to IH Institutions in the first six months of 20717 were KM 584,013,298, and total realised expenditures and expenses from the Budget of BIH Institutions were KM 438,303,486.

No new institutions were formed, and BIH Institutions continued savings on receivables and supplies. Actually, the base for calculation of salaries, allowances for meal, transport and vacation remained at the level from the second half of 2012, when they were considerably decreased, while additional savings were also made at supplies expenses.

As to obligations based on foreign debt, KM 438.59 was paid, and all liabilities were serviced. Out of the amount, KM 379.24 million or 86.47 per cent was paid for the principal, while payment for interests, service and other fees amounted to KM 59.35 million, or 13.53 per cent.

 

OUT OF TOTAL KM 2.1 MILLION FOR ROMA POPULATION, KM ONE MILLION FOR HOUSING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on distribution and criteria for allocation of grant funds for solving the issues of the Roma population in the areas of employment, health care and housing for year 2017, in total amount of KM 2.1 million.

KM one million was planned for housing of the Roma, KM 626,600.00 in the Federation of BIH,  313,400.00 in Republika Srpska, and KM 60,000.00 in the Brčko District. Funds will be allocated to local communities by way of a public call for project proposals for solving the housing issue of the Roma population in 2017. The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees will publish the public call at its web page and in three daily papers distributed throughout BIH territory.

KM 700,000.00 was planned for employment of the Roma, out of which in the Federation of BIH KM 448,620.00, in Republika Srpska KM 219,380.00, and in Brčko District KM 42,000.00. The funds will be realised in cooperation with the Entity and Brčko District Employment Services, based on public calls issued by these services.

For health care of the Roma population, planned was KM 400,000.00, and funds will be realised in cooperation with Health Care Institutes in the Federation of BIH in amount of KM 250,640.00, Republika Srpska in amount of KM 125,360.00 and Brčko District in amount of  KM 24,000.00. The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees will conclude Memorandums of Understanding with the Health Care Institutes in order to define the exact way of the funds realisation.

 

CoM BIH COMDEMNS ANY FORM OF THREATS AND ATTACKS AGAINT JOURNALISTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH condemns any form for intimidation or attacks against journalists and expresses its readiness for combating against speech of hatred, this was concluded during the review of the Council of Europe Platform for Protection of Journalism and Journalists Safety.

The Platform says that in the course of 2017, 24 cases were registered of attacks against journalists coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, while two concrete cases  were described of treats to journalists of “N1” and “Večernji list”, respectively.

 

STARTING PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPATION IN EU PROGRAMMES FOR EMPLOYMNET AND SOCIAL INNOVATIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information for the Ministry of Civil Affairs in regard to the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Programme for Employment and Social Innovations (EaSI) of the European Union, ad started a procedure for the accession of BIH to the Programme.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs, was designated for the institution competent for the process of accession and coordination of participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with its constitutional competences, and as such it should provide to the General Directorate of the European Commission, in charge for the EaSI Programme, the Letter of Interest for participation in the programme.

The Programme supports the promotion of a higher level of employment, guarantee of an adequate welfare, fight against social exclusion and poverty, and improvement of working conditions.

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