Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 121st and 122nd Sessions

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS DEFINED MODIFIED PROPOSAL LAW ON AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO EXCISES LAW 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a modified Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Excises Law, which includes improvements, agreed by all relevant stakeholders, as to clearly defied purpose and spending of collected funds.

The modified Proposal Law with the accompanying improvements was agreed at the level of Entity Ministers and Prime Ministers and Council of Ministers representatives, following a series of analyses and consultations made with an active support and technical expert assistance by the EU Delegation in Sarajevo.

The key amendment relates to the fact that the excises are not to be increased, except for biofuels and bio-liquids, but instead tolls are being increased for KM 0.15, the funds from which will be used exclusively for construction of motorways and construction and rehabilitation of all other roads.

The set of Excise Laws was sent to further procedure to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, and its adoption would mean the start of a major investment cycle in the area of motorways and roads construction throughout BIH, which would lead to the further GDP growth, strengthening and development of a series of economic activities, increase of BIH competitiveness, and job creation.

 

DEFINED AMENDMNETS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO LABOUR LAW

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined and will send to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Labour in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with corrections adopted at the session.

By the Law Amendments and Supplements, the existing solutions are being aligned with the relevant practice and international principles. The Supplements to the Law provides for, among other things, a possibility for one of parents of a child having psychic-physical disturbances, to enjoy the right to shortened work hours.

Also, fines are stricter for employers breaking the Labour Law. Defined also was an obligation of keeping files of the employees in administrative bodies and institutions with public authorisations, in addition to agreed and harmonised conditions for vacation for all employees in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

BIH AND SERBIA INTENSIFY THEIR COOPERATION ON EUROPEAN UNION INTEGRATIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina defined a Proposal Agreement on cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia in the process of accession to the European Union.

BIH and Serbia thus intensify their political dialogue and cooperation directed to the integration into the European Union, in accordance with the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement with the European Union, simultaneously strengthening their cooperation in the region.

With the strengthening of a permanent political dialogue on bilateral and multilateral issues, this Agreement improves the operative cooperation of the two states’ relevant bodies, directed to the European Union integration.

Under the Agreement, the two states will support mutual promotion of economic and trade cooperation within the free trade zone.

The conclusion of the Bilateral Agreement will contribute to further development of relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union.

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

 

BIH SECURED GRANT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE IN GRADIŠKA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on EUR 6.8 million Investment Grant between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Mediterranean Corridor (R2a): Bosnia and Herzegovina – Interconnection to Croatia “Construction of Border Bridge in Gradiška Project”, with basics for its conclusion.

The Bridge construction project will be financed in equal shares by BUIH and the Republic of Croatia. The Croatian side si responsible for developer, and Bosnia nad Hzeregovina si responsible for monitoring of works.

The Proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BH signatory.

 

BIH CoM AND EBRD: BETTER COOPERATION FOR PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT CLIMATE IMPROVEMENT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered a proposal for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Ministers of BIH and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, concerning cooperation in supporting an initiative for investment climate and governance improvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Proposal MoU will be sent to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations was proposed for the BIH signatory.

The MoU creates a framework of cooperation between the EBRD and BIH for the improved private sector development, strengthening of investment climate and good governance promotion though establishment of an Investment Council, with the support of the EBRD.

The MoU is of a framework nature and will reflect only positions and intentions of the Council of Ministers and EBRD to cooperate without making any obligations for the Entities and lower levels of government in BIH.

 

FOSTERING COOPERATION WITH PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Memorandum of Understanding on trade promotion and economic cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and China Expert and Credit Insurance Corporation (SINOSURE).

The aim is to improve mutual relations and set-up a solid basis for development of a long-term comprehensive cooperation of the two states and their respective companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, China and at the third markets. The MoU supports the future sustainable projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Chinese companies in the key areas of infrastructure, energy, transport, communications, and environment friendly industry and tourism.

The Proposal MoU will be sent to the BIH Presidency for father procedure.

 

BETTER SUPPORT OF BIH INTERESTS IN INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS AMICABLE SETTLEEMNT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, on setting-up a BIH negotiating team for amicable settlement of international investment disputes.

The formation of the negotiating team is meant for securing a timely, coordinated and effective action of competent institutions in representation of interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina in procedures of amicable settlement of international investment disputes initiated against BIH.

The negotiating team will be comprised of a representative from each the State-level Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Justice, Finance, Foreign Affairs and BIH Chief Attorney’s Office, together with an ad hoc members from the legal person causing the dispute, Entity Ministries or competent institutions of Entities, Cantons Brčko District of BIH, including competent Attorney’s Offices.

Upon a proposal of the BIH Attorney’s Office, the Council of Ministers of BIH may include an expert with relevant experience in international arbitrage, i.e. investment law.

 

THREE INITIATIVES ENDORSED: BANJA LUKA – DOBOR MOROTWAY CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and designated a negotiating delegation for conclusion of a Financial Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Investment Bank and Public Enterprise Motorways of Republika Srpska for Banja Luka – Doboj B Motorway, worth EUR 47 million.

The Motorway section Banjaluka – Doboj is about 72 kilometres long, it is parallel with the Corridor X in Croatia and connected to the Corridor V c. The Motorway between Banja Luka and Doboj will improve the traffic capacities and will connect Western and Eastern parts of Republika Srpska and provide for better services to drivers.

The session endorsed also an Initiative and designated a negotiating delegation for conclusion of a Contract on Endorsement for an increase of loan for EUR 10 mil. and acceptance of increased liabilities under a Guarantee Contract (Banja Luka – Doboj, Phase I) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and development.

The funds will be spent for the finalisation of construction of Banja Luka – Doboj Motorway, section Prnjavor – Doboj, about 36 kilometres long, including 22 kilometres of local roads.

At the same time, the Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and designated a negotiating delegation for conclusion of a Guarantee Contract, referring to a Loan contract for the Corridor V c Project in Republika Srpska – part I, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

It is about a loan guarantee for EUR 70 million loan with 15 year-term, including three years of grace period for the Public Enterprise “Motorways of Republika Srpska”, Ltd. Banja Luka.

The funds are intended for construction of the main section of the Corridor V c motorway between two loops plus connection road, including a passage over the Bosna River.

 

IMPROVEMENT IN CHIND RIGHTS PROTECTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Combined V and VI periodical report of Bosnia and Herzegovina on implementation of the Convention of Child Rights, which states that a certain improvement was made in protection of child rights since the submission of the last periodical report. Also, activities are being continued on further fulfilment of relevant recommendations.

The improvement was made primarily at all levels of government in view of harmonisation of legal framework with the Convention on Child Rights, adoption of strategic documents and action plans for better child protection, and establishment of a coordination body at the state level for the implementation of the Convention. The commitment of BIH to implementation of the Child Rights Committee recommendations is reflected in the adoption of a 2015-2020 Action Plan for children in BIH.

The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH will provide the Report to the UN Committee for Child Rights.

 

CROSS-SECTOR WORK GROUP TO ANALYSE SITUATION IN SPORTS FEDERATIONS OF BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, on designating a Work Group to analyse the state of affairs with sports federations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to propose suitable solutions for the existing problems in the area.

The cross-sector Work Group, comprised from representatives of State Ministries of Civil Affairs and Justice, Entity Ministries and The Brčko District Department responsible for sports, will make an analysis of the state of affairs in the sports federations in BIH by the end of March 2018, and will table to the Council of Ministers of BIH appropriate solutions for the existing problems in the area.

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