Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 129th Session

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME FOR 2018 ADOPTED 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, with some corrections made a the session, its Work Programme for 2018, which indicates, as its priorities, the implementation of further activities related to accession to the European Union, in addition to economic development, strengthening of the rule of law, fulfilment of the “Partnership for Peace” requirements, and further improvement of both regional and international cooperation.

The annual programme was based on the Mid-Term Work Programme of the Council of Ministers of BIH, which relays its vision of Bosnia and Herzegovina development on five general development principles, namely: integrated growth, smart growth, sustainable growth, inclusive growth, and growth-oriented management. In this way, the Council of Minsters activities are being connected to the “Europe 2020” Strategy and “South-East Europe 2020” Strategy. The BIH Council of Ministers Work Programme contains an Action Plan with the list of pieces of legislation, contracts, resolutions, reports, information, analyses, strategies, regulations and other materials, including about 100 development-investment projects/programmes, planned for adoption in 2018.

 

MORE THAN EUR 51 MILLION FOR EFFECTIVENESS AND FIANNCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF RS RAILWAYS

 

The Council of Ministers BIH defined a Proposal Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – Republika Srpska Railways Restructuring Project, worth EUR 51.3 million.

The aim of the Project is to improve the operative effectiveness and financial sustainability of the railways of Republika Srpska.The laon term is 32 years with seven-year grace period, and funds were allocated to Republika Srpska – Railways of Republika Srpska.

The Proposal Loan Agreement with Basics for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS GREW FOR 66.8 PER CENT AND EXPORT OF GOODS HAS TWO DIGIT GROWTH RATES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the directorate for Economic planning on macro-economic indices trend for January – October 2017, showing a visible continuation of growth in all economic parameters in BIH.

According to Information, the registered economic growth in the Q3 last year in BIH was 2.6 per cent, compared with the same quarter the year before, which shows the growth continued from Q1 and 2. The important contribution to the GDP growth, following a longer period of time, was made in investments, with a growth of private spending and positive foreign trade balance, while the public spending stagnated.

The latest data from the Central Bank of BIH suggest that in the payment balance of the half year total foreign investment were KM 386.7 million and are higher for 66.8 per cent, compared to the same period of time last year.

In October 2017, a four month trend of export of goods growth was continued in BIH marking two digit growth rates and was 20.5, compared to the same month the year before, while goods import increased for 15 per cent.

The number of employees grew in September last year for 2.4 per cent, relative to the same month 2016 and was 753.4 thousand.

In 10 months of 2017, total KM 11.8 billion of indirect taxes revenues were collected, which is 9.3 per cent more than in the same period the year before. Simultaneously the entity Taxation Administrations collected 5.KM 9 billion, which is for KM 5’5 million more than in the same period of time 2016.

Total deposits at the end of the period of time were KM 19.6 billion, and marked an increase for 12.1 per cent, while the major contribution to the growth came from population, whole deposits were KM 11.1 billion.

 

REVIEW OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRENDS IN 2013-2016

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a Report on Socio-Economic inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2016 with a review of socio-economic trends from 2013 to 2016.

The Report drafted by the Directorate for Economic Planning represents an elaboration of a process enabling individuals exposed to risk of poverty and social exclusion to gain an opportunity and necessary support for a full participation in all spheres of society, by reaching acceptable living standards.

The social inclusion is a basis of social policies in the European Union countries, as well as their mutual coordination at the EU level.

 

SIX EARLIER CONCLUDED TREATIES REMAIN IN FORCE IN BIH AND ROMANIA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Protocol between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Romania on succession by Bosnia and Herzegovina of bilateral treaties concluded between the Federative People’s Republic of Yugoslavia/Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia and People’s Republic of Romania/Socialist Republic of Romania/Romania at the levels of state and government.

In this way, three treaties were taken over, and these are one additional protocol and two conventions between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania, which remain in force.

These are treaties which regulate legal assistance, international road traffic, and issuance, based on seniority and studies of documents by the two countries authorities, referring to their citizens. Also in force remains an Additional protocol to the Contract on Legal Assistance, and two Conventions, namely, Consular Convention and Double Taxation Avoidance Convention in Respect to Taxes on Income and Property from 1986.

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

 

MINISTERS TOOK NOTE OF INFORMATION BY DIRECTORATE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information on overall activities of the Directorate for European Integrations concerning managing the European integrations process, as well as on the finalisation of answers to 3,242 questions from the European Commission Questionnaire.

 

CONTROL OF PESSTICIDE RESIDUES IN/ON FOOD OF HERBAL ORIGIN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report by the Food Safety Agency on the implemented control programme for pesticide residues in and on food of gerbil origin in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2017.

According to the report, 195 samples were analysed, of which 109 or 56 per cent of domestic origin, and 86 or 44 per cent of foreign origin, and over 31l analyses were conducted.

The report indicates that four samples or 2 per cent contained pesticide residues in the concentration above maximum allowed quantity set forth by the relevant rulebook. It is a sample of cultivated mushrooms and plums and two samples of table grapes.

Also, pesticide residues above the prescribed maximum quantity were identified with 60 samples, while pesticides were not found in 131 samples.

The pesticide residues were not found with fruit mash, beans, cornichons, potatoes, mandarins and spring onion.

Samples taking and analyses were made in three different periods of last year. 

 

ADOPTED WORK PROGRAMMES IN 10 INSTITUTIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted separate work programmes for 2018 for the following 10 institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Centre for Information and Recognition of High Education Documents in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Directorate for European Integrations; Food Safety Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Market Supervision Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Consumer Protection Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina; State Aid Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Competition Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Agency for Postal Traffic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Agency for Labour and employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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