Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 131st Session

PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT FREED FROM IMPORT FEES 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Indirect Administration Taxation on conditions and procedure for carrying out right to freeing from import and export fees, for the reason their harmonisation with relevant customs regulations of the European Union.

The Decision sets forth conditions and procedure of carrying out rights to freeing from payment of import fees on putting the merchandise to market, in accordance with Article 2017 of the Law on Customs Policy in BIH. In view of that, no import fees will be paid to imports by foreign person, except for passenger cars, slot machines and lottery. Also released from payment of import fees are the production equipment, no produced in BIH, and which is imported for new of extension of the existing production, modernisation of production, introduction of new one, I e. modernisation of the existing production technology  for direct production activity.

Released from payment of import fee are gods used for military, police and sanction institutions, fully financed by donors. Goods used for demining is also released form import fees, in addition to goods for renovation and reconstruction projects, if the subject projects  were adopted by the Council of Ministers and fully financed by foreign donors or international development banks, and in smaller part  from the Budget. Also released is the equipment used by fire fighters and civil protection for the purpose of protection sand rescue, as well as property of natural person when he transfers his permanent residence from other country to BIH, together with equipment he inherited in some other country. Also released is the goods imported for concluding a marriage – wedding equipment,  gifts, domestic items belonging to natural person moving from other state to BIH for the reason of concluding a marriage.

There is no import fees for school equipment, education materials, goods for needs of certain groups of citizens, like blind persons, such as goods adjusted to education and development of such persons.

The decision sets forth that a passenger, in accordance to the Law on Customs Policy in BIH, may transfer is his hand luggage only non-commercial equipment without paying import fees, if these are worth KM 600.00, instead of previous KM 200.00, thus making an adjustment to the EU regulations, which define the sum of EUR 300,00. Quantity limitations were clearly defined for s for tobacco and tobacco products and alcohol and alcohol drinks.

 

ECONO0MIC REFORMS PROGRAMME ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted an Economic Reforms Programme of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2018-2020, containing mid-terms macroeconomic and fiscal framework, including fiscal measures and comprehensive structural reforms programme, for an aim at promoting growth and country’s competitiveness.

The new ERP strengthens and enhances cooperation between the State and Entities in joint implementation reform in finances, transport market, agriculture, forestry, , water utility, business ambience and in reduction of informal economy and linking of labour market and education, i.e. increase of effectivity of labour market. The state level remains dedicated to reforms in the area of trade and investments, while the Entities will work together on reduction of burden to labour and improvement of health care sector.

The new ERP, with certain supplements by the chairman and Ministers, will be sent to the European Commission by the end of this January.

The Economic Reforms Programme by 2020 is the result of a joint work by representatives of the Council of Ministers, Central Bank of BIH, coordinators appointed by the Government of the Federation of BIH, Government of Republika Srpska, representatives of the Entity Ministries, Directorate for Economic Planning and Cooperation with the European Commission and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

 

REVISED SCIENCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BIH INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN SCIENCE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a Revised Framework Strategy of Science Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina by 2022, which provides for strategic guidelines for development of this area in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By adoption of the Strategy, the Council of Ministers of BIH wants to help prosperous development of science and research, integrate Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European area of science, and facilitate accession to various European networks and funds established for the area.

The Strategy got incorporated a new chapter “BIH in European Research Area – ERA priorities - implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, and a special attention was paid to innovations in the Chapter “Connection between Science and Economy”.

The Strategy implementation will reflect positively to economy, education and culture in our country

The Strategy includes 10 key aims and tens of measures and activities the responsible institutions should implement so as to help by 2022 the development Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a contemporary “society of knowledge”.

One of the aims is to secure the leading role of science and technology as factors of long-term development of the country by provision of consensus by all decision makers in the sense that the science development represents a general interest.

 

INCREASE OF ODA FUNDS LAST LEAR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury “Review of Donor Activities in 2016”, which gives a comprehensive insight into projects and programmes supported by funds of the Official Development Aid (ODA), including information on latest activities and reforms implemented in priority sectors of development in BIH, as well as planned activities.

Total EUR 550.59 million of ODA assistance was allocated in 2016, of which EUR 16.22 million are grants, and EUR 388.37 million are loans, which represents EUR 126.06 million or 30 per cent increase, compared to the year before. Total reimbursed ODA funds in 2016 were EUR 449.65 million, of which EUR 145.16 million were grants, and EUR 304.49 million were loans, showing a growth of total reimbursed funds compared to year 2015. The major share of the international development aid in 2016 was allocated to the transport sector.

The major creditors were the European Bank for reconstruction and Development, European Investment bank, World Bank, Germany, and major donors were the European Union, United States of America/USAID, UN, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden/Sida.

The report will be available at web pages of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Donor Coordination Forum.

 

BETTER POULTRY SALMONELLOSIS CONTROL

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, took, upon a proposal of the Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, a Regulation on Amendments and Supplement to the Regulation on measures in cases of detection of relevant salmonella serotypes with poultry, of interest for public health, with an “EI” mark, as a certification of relevant harmonisation withe the relevant EU legislation.

The Amendments and Supplements to the regulation, prepared by the Veterinary Office of BIH, secure a better poultry salmonellosis control, in compliance with recommendation BIH received during “Pharma II” projects expert visit.

 

SEVERAL INFORMATION ADOPTED ALONG WITH REPORT ON ROAD MAP REALISATION FOR EXPORT OF BIH PORDUCTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on taking over activities on harmonisation of domestic legislation and implementation of acquis for fishing and aquaculture.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will, in cooperation with the responsible Entity and Brčko District of BIH institutions continue coordination activities in the area do fishery, in the context of approximation of BIH to the European Union.

 

The aim is to create conditions for new increase of BIH fish export quota, after the Additional Protocol to Temporary Trade Agreement of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission early last year enabled the increase of quotas for customs free fish export form then 120 to 700 tonnes of fish, and the export of additional 120 tonnes of fish but with certain customs fees.

The session adopted separate information on activities on establishment of an Agriculture IT System in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and on system components and promotion of Agricultural Households Registry (RPG) and Client Registry (RK) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, established based on the Law on Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will, in cooperation with competent Entity and Brčko District of BIH bodies, continue its activities to the end of improvement of the sector development.

A Report was adopted on the Road Map Realisation for creation of conditions for expert of products of animal and herbal origin from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Report provides a wider view to activities taken by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in cooperation with other competent institutions, such as the BIH Phytosanitary Administration, Veterinary Office, and BIH Food Safety Agency.

It is about tens of measures implemented last year for the aim of enabling and keeping the reached level of animal and herbal origin products expert form BIH.

 

DECISION ON ALLOCATION OF GRANT “ACCOMMODATION AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE  TO FOREIGN HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS”

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, on allocation of grant funds “Accommodation and Legal Assistance to Foreign Human Trafficking Victims” for 2017, in accordance with the law on foreigners.

In accordance with the decision, total KM 18,770.00 was allocated to two NGOs, following a public call and report by the NGOs on number of foreigners, human trafficking victims, accommodated to safe houses and on legal assistance provided from Dec 1, 2016 to Dec 1, 2017.

These are the civil Association “Medica” Zenica, which got Km 11,795.00 and International Solidarity forum – EMMAUS, which got KM 6,975.00 worth grant.   (end)