Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 12th Session

FIST BIH ENERGY EFFICACY ACTION PLAN 2016-2020 ADOPTED 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Energy Efficacy Action Plan in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2016-2020, as the first document in the area, drafted by a work group, comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic relations and Entity and Brčko District line Ministries.

The Plan contains measures and programmes, the realisation of which is the responsibility of BIH and Brčko District, and its integral parts are the Action Plan for Energy Efficacy in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016-2018 and Amendments and Supplements to the Action Plan for Energy Efficacy in Republika Srpska by 2018, where energy savings made over the previous period were described in detail, in addition to indicated planned measures and programmes which are in the Entities competence.

The Action Plan includes new measures for the increase of energy efficacy in the areas of energy generation and energy for heating and cooling, including remote heating, as well as new measures in transmission and distribution of electrical energy and gas.

The implementation of energy efficacy measures and programmes will create conditions for new investments in the area, which would help Bosnia and Herzegovina get better position at the energy map of Europe.

 

BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on execution of the Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January – September 2017.

The total realised revenues, receivables and finances available to BIH Institutions in the first nine months of 2017 were KM 794,802,237, while total expenditures and costs of the BIH Institutions Budget were KM 667,662.216.

The Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina continued with savings throughout 2017, and basics for employees’ salaries and emoluments remained at the level of 2912, when they were considerably decreased. The Budget savings were made also by application of single regulations for entertainment costs, fixed and mobile phones and official cars, together with continued decrease of reimbursements to members of steering and supervisory boards and other working bodies and committees.

All foreign debt obligations due in January-Septembers were serviced timely, in total amount of KM 608,152,786.88.

 

BIH EXPORT INCREASED FOR AROUND 18 PER CENT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, an Analysis of Foreign Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January – September 2017, which indicated that the export was increased in the reported period for 17.94 per cent and was worth KM 9.08 billion.

The total volume of foreign exchange for the first nine months of 2017 was 21.4 billion, which is an increase for KM 2, 73 billion, in relation to the last year.

In the reported period of time, goods worth KM 13.3 billion were imported, or 12.65 per cent more than in the same period 2016.

The European Union is still our main foreign trade partner and in total volume of goods exchange it participates with 65 per cent of exchange, followed by the CEFTA signatory-countries with 14 per cent of share, and the rest of countries account for 21 per cent share. The export to the EU made more than 72 per cent of total BIH export, while import from the EU countries has 61 per cent share in total BIH import. The reported period marks an increase of export to the EU for 16 per cent and increase of import for 11 per cent, with a fall of trade deficit for one per cent.

In goods exchange with CEFTA countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina marked an increase of export for 32 per cent in the first nine months of this year , while import from these countries increased for 12 per cent, with a decrease of trade deficit for 26 per cent.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has the strongest coverage of import by export with Austria (147 per cent) among its major trade partners, then Slovenia (104 per cent), Germany (77 per cent), Croatia (72 per cent) and Italy (60 per cent).

In the first quarter of this year, BIH exported most to Germany, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Austria, Turkey and Montenegro. Simultaneously, the most of import came from Germany, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, China, Slovenia, Russia and Turkey.

 

BIH 2020 PRESCHOOL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, to adopt a Preschool Education Development Platform in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2017-2022.

By adopting the Platform, the Council of Ministers of BIH confirms a genuine commitment to progress in the preschool education and development of the country, and creates preconditions for funds allocation for education within the IPA Ii Programme.

The Platform represents a framework for action by competent education authorities in harmonising policies of development of preschool education with the aims of the European Union and United Nations, by way of developing of BIH own strategies, plans and other documents supporting the development of preschool education.

At the same time, the Platform unifies the aims of the preschool education and the respective activities, grouped in fife pillars referring to an increase of coverage of children by preschool education, quality insurance, regular funding, inclusion and awareness rising of society.

 

TURKISH GRANT TO MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement on Military-Financial Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Turkey, together with an Implementation Protocol concerning the financial assistance between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Turkey.

It is the Turkish Government grant worth TRY 11 million in year 2017, which will help the Armed Forces of BIH in solving the issues of equipment and capacity building of the BIH defence system.

The Proposal Basics will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Defence was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

TO IMPROVE SITUATION IN SEA FISHERY SECTOR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal for conclusion of a Project Agreement “Scientific Cooperation for Support to Responsible Fishery at Adriatic/Support to Establishment of Sub-Regional Fishery Monitoring System – AdriaMed between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Signing the Project Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina will join the AdriaMed Project for the promotion of scientific cooperation in Adriatic countries (Albania, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia), in accordance with the Responsible Fishing Code, adopted by UN FAO. The Project is financed by the European Commission, Republic of Italy and Republic of Croatia.

The long-term aim of the Project is to support the Adriatic states in the realisation of a programme of joint fishing management, with a full and coordinated cooperation of national fishery administrations, research structures, fish-processing companies and professional fishers. The Proposal Agreement will be forwarded to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

KM 2.1 MILLION TO FUND FOR RETURN FROM MINISTRY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, on reallocation of KM two million from the Budget of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, in addition to KM 100,000 for local communities for sustainable return projects, to the budget of the Fund for Return of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Earlier, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Ministry for Displaced Persons and Refugees, Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons of Republika Srpska, Government of the Brčko District of BIH and Fund for Return of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an agreement on cooperation and realisation of rights from the Annex II of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 2017.

For the implementation of the Decision does not require extra funds, as the finances were budgeted in the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees for year 2017.

 

HARMONISATION PROCESS OF BIH LEGISLATION WITH ACQUIES TO BE IMPROVED AND SIMPLIFIED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Directorate for European Integrations, on Amendments and Supplements to Decision on harmonisation procedure of BIH legislation with the EU acquis.

The amendments and supplements are aimed to improve and simplify the process, after Bosnia and Herzegovina entered a new phase of relations with the EU by submitting the membership application.

Reference to legal acts of the European Union will facilitate monitoring of the process of transposing the legal acts into the legal system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will enable the transparency of the harmonisation process, including the process of public information.

 

SPORTS SITUATION IN BIH ANALYSIS ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH on an analysis of financial situation in sports at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH will develop criteria for allocation of funds intended for sports where it would clearly indicate the co-financing and support to athletes for competitions where norms for Olympic and Paralympic games are achieved, including for participation at Olympic and Paralympic Games and World and European championships.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH will coordinate with competent Ministries for sports in BIH to provide mechanisms for control of financial resources spending and for planned financing of top athletes and competitions to promote Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All competent institutions are obliged to cooperate with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH in this area; these conclusions will be provided to the Ministries and other bodies responsible for sports for the sake of further coordination.

According to Information, more than KM 8.7 million were budgeted by institutions at the State, Entity and cantonal level in this year, and the mentioned amount is expected to be higher, after the competent Ministries from Republika Srpska and the Sarajevo Canton provide their respective reports.

 

CoM DECIDED ON MIMUMUM WORK DURING STRIKE AT BHRT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, prepared by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, in accordance with the Law on Strike of Staff in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, defining a minimum process of work in Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the strike.

Decision is meant to secure work process during the strike of BIH TV staff, with a view at protecting the public interest,interest of citizens and general security.

 

TEMPORARY STAY PROLONGED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Security, on defining justifiable reasons of humanitarian nature for extension of temporary stay of citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic.

According to the decision, the justifiable reasons of humanitarian nature are deemed unfavourable security situation and life threatening circumstances in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The extension of a year-long temporary stay for humanitarian reasons may be approved to Syrians, whose temporary stay was approved based on mentioned decision and not controversial to the Law on Foreigners.

The procedure for extension of temporary stay for humanitarian reasons carried out by the Foreigners’ Affairs Service.

The Council of Ministers took the mentioned decision because the validity of the precious one expired.

 

CROSS-SECTOR WORK GROUP FOR MONITORING OF CE CONVENTION DESIGNATED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to form a Cross-Sector Work Group for monitoring implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Smuggling Medical Products and Similar Criminal Acts, which represent threat to public health (Medicrime Convention).

The Cross-Sector Work Group includes representatives of competent state Ministries, Agency for Medicines and Medical Aids of BIH, Prosecutor’s Office of BIH, Interpol of BIH, Indirect Taxation Administration.

Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Medicrime convention in Strasbourg, in December 2015.

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