Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 132nd Session

WITHDRAWAL OF II TRANCHE UNDER EXTENDED IMF ARRANGEMENT 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on withdrawal of the second tranche under the Extended Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, in total amount of KM 155,571,502.17, and authorised the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to issue a promissory note.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will allocate the IMF Extended Arrangement second tranche proceeds in share 2/3 to the Federation of BIH and 1/3 to Republika Srpska, respectively.

 

ANSWES TO EX QUESTIONNAIRE COMPLETED, TRANSLATED AND TECHNICALY FINALISED IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information on technical finalisation of answers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Commission Questionnaire for drafting an opinion on request by Bosnia and Herzegovina for accession to the European Union membership (candidate status), which indicated that the answers were completed, translated and are currently in the process of technical finalisation in English language.

The text answers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to 3,242 questions from the European Commission Questionnaire for drafting of an opinion to the request of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership in the European Union will be posted on the web site of the Directorate for European Integrations of the Council of Ministers of BIH after their official hand over to the European Commission.

 

BIH AND MACEDONIA FOSTER COOPERATION IN TOURISM

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on Cooperation in Tourism between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Macedonia, which fosters the overall bilateral cooperation.

By intensifying cooperation in tourism, the two states contribute to better understanding of culture, history and life in the other country, and create conditions for mutual improved touristic growth.

The Proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

FOSTERING OF ECONOPMIC TIES OF BIH AND MACEDONIA

                 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for starting negotiations on an Agreement on Economic Cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia, with suggestions adopted by the session.

The aim of the Agreement is to strengthen the economic relations and cooperation of economic entities, in addition to creating conditions for a joint participation at the third markets. Intensifying economic cooperation should eventually bring about the growth of national economies and increase of goods exchange.

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

 

EUR 10 MILLION FOR ZENICA HOSPITAL

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and designated a delegation for negotiations on Loan Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the Energy Efficacy Improvement Project in Zenica Hospital, worth EUR 10 million.

The aim is to improve the energy efficacy in hospital in Zenica and reduce energy spending and CO2 emission, as well as to prevent floods in hospital premises, which is an important improvement in terms of environmental protection, human health promotion and improvement of quality of service provided to patients.

The Loan is allocated to the Federation of BIH with 15 year term and three years of grace period.

 

RECONSTRUCTION OD DIPLOMATIC-CONSULAT BUILDINGS IN MADRID AND BUDAPEST

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on use of funds collected form the Republic of Serbia for the use of the building of the ex-Yugoslav Embassy in Ankara in time period January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2016.

It is about total USD 555.300.00 to be used for reconstruction and furbishing of the facilities BIH got under the succession of property of ex-SFRY in Madrid and Budapest, and the Council of Ministers of BIH will take decision on realisation of the multi—annual project . The facilities reconstruction is intended for m0ving of the diplomatic-consular offices to their own premises.

The authorised representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia concluded, mid last year, an Implementation Protocol for Annex B of the Agreement on Succession Issues, which deals with these issues.

 

TO INCREASAE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND COMPETITITVENESS

 

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will, in cooperation with the responsible entity and Brčko District of BIH institutions, continue to coordinate activities on policy harmonisation on agricultural land in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The conclusion stemmed from a report on measures took in the area of agricultural land policy, which was adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

The implementation of the land reform in BIH within the process of harmonising the area with the European Union legislative, with a view at increasing effectiveness of agricultural production and competitiveness in BIH, will be proceeded by drafting of several sector analyses.

 

LAUCHED ACTIVITIES FOR ACCESSION TO OECD GLOBAL FORUM

 

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury starts activities with responsible BIH institutions, for our country to accede, by the end of 2019 at latest, to OECD Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information in tax purposes and to Inclusive framework for implementation of measures against decrease of tax base and shift of profit (BEPS), and signed a Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Issues.

All BIH Institutions are responsible to provide administrative support to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury in the effort.

Previously, the Council of Ministers adopted a report on evaluation results of the Code of Conduct Group – Business Taxation of the Council of European Union.

 

HIGH LEVEL OF REALISATION OF URGENT MEASURES PLAN CONCERNING REGFUGEE CRISIS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note on an Emergency Measures Plan implementation and realisation of activities listed in Information on assessments and capabilities of Bosnia and Herzegovina as to refugee crisis in the region and European Union, including of the review of situation with migration crisis on the Western Balkan route.

According to information by the Ministry of Security, out of total planned 18 measures, 16 were fully implemented, and two were only partially realised.

All state.-level Ministries took part in the realisation, in addition to the BIH Border Police, Service for Foreigners Affairs and Agency Civil Service of BIH.

The situation concerning migrant crisis at the Western Balkan route is being monitored continuously.

 

 

EMIGRANTS COOPERATION POLICY IN IMPLEMENTATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on implementation of cooperation with emigrants policy in 2017, adopted in April 2017, and took appropriate conclusions to the end of further policy implementation.

The report stresses that activities were launched for implementation of policy goals, which refer to development of legal system and relevant institutional capacities, support to emigrants, promotion of cooperation and creation of conditions for improved contribution of emigrants to development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the policy, the implementation of these activities, which require a longer-term commitment, include, other than state-level Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other competent institutions, in compliance with their constitutional competences.

The financial resources needed for the realisation of the Emigrant Cooperation Policy were budgeted in the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, while the major portion was secured though donor funds by Swiss Government via the Diaspora for Development Project.

At the local level, the project will enhance the municipal capacities for providing high quality services, networking and better cooperation with diaspora and its inclusion into development plans

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