Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 142nd Session
05/15/2018
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed a Draft Action Plan of urgent measures, under which the current Coordination Team will evolve into an Operative Headquarters, for the aim of coordinating all activities concerning migrant crisis at humane and dignified manner.
The Migrant crisis is the problem of the whole of BIH, therefore solution-finding requires involvement of all institutions in BIH.
The Draft Action Plan contains a package of urgent measures primarily directed to securing better border controls, more effective combating illegal migrations on the BIH territory, implementation of readmission agreements, together with strengthening readmission and asylum capacities, and intensification of activities for migrant smuggling prevention.
These measures will increase accommodation capacities in BIH for illegal migrants and vulnerable categories, in cooperation with NGOs and international organisations. Competent institutions in Serbia, Montenegro and the European Union will be required action taking for addressing the migrant crisis in BIH.
The issue of borders permeability, so as to prevent illegal migrant movements.
With improved cooperation by police agencies in our country, the new measures will also intensify cooperation with bodies responsible for border management in neighbouring countries and in the EU.
According to the Ministry of Security, Bosnia and Herzegovina si currently facing an intensified illegal migrant inflow, especially starting this May.
CoM ENDORSES DIGITAL AGENDA
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed a Statement of Support to Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, to be provided by the Ministry of Communications and Transport to the BIH Presidency, while the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH was proposed for the BIH signatory.
The Statement should be signed by representatives of Albania, BIH, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo in Sofia, on May 17 this year.
The signatories of the Statement commit to work on decrease of roaming costs, development of e-government, e-health and other issues relevant for the citizens of the region.
FUNDS SECURED FOR HOSPITAL IN ZENICA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Contract (Zenica Hospital Energy Efficacy Improvement Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The Project, which secures heating of the Zenica Hospital, energy saving and decrease of pollution, will be financed through an EUR 10 million EBRD Loan , with 10 years term and three year grace period, with BIH guarantees.
The Loan is accompanied by EUR one million EBRD grant from the Regional Energy Efficacy Programme Fund for the Western Balkans. (REEP).
The proposal contract with Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
CoM BIH REFORM ACTIVITIES RECOGNISED
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information on EC Annual Enlargement Package, from this April, which includes seven separate reports evaluating the implementation of the EC enlargement policy in the region.
The above Information by the CoM of BIH Directorate for European Integrations says, among other things, that the European Commission has prepared a “Temporary Report” on BIH, since an Opinion on BIH application for EU membership is in the process of drafting.
The Report recognises reform activities of the Council of Ministers of BIH, it evaluates the improved capability of sustaining the competition pressure and market forces within the European Union.
The priority areas covered by the enlargement policy are: the role of law; public administration reform; human rights and basic freedoms; combating corruption and organised crime of terrorism, as well as economic governance and competition.
BIH ACCEEDS TO EU PROGRAMME “JUSTICE”
The Council of Ministers of BIH confirmed an interest for participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Union “Justice” Programme.
The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Security will draft and send a letter of interest to the competent European Commission Directorate-General for Justice, for accession of our country to the EU Programme.
The “Justice” Programme targets further development of the European justice sector, which si based on mutual recognition and confidence among member-countries, though development of judiciary cooperation in civil law and criminal law matters, and it also supports the EU in suppression of narcotics use and trafficking. The total budget for the 2014-2020 Programme implementation is EUR 477.6 million.
Participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU Programmes was provided for under the European Community – Bosnia and Herzegovina Framework Agreement on General Principles of BIH participation in the Community Programmes.
GRECO REPORT
The Council of Ministers adopted Information by the Ministry of Security on adoption of a Report on Harmonisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with GRECO Recommendations in the IV cycle of evaluation, dedicated to “prevention of Corruption among Members of Parliament, Judges and Prosecutors”,
The Ministry of Security will provide the Report to responsible institutions for the implementation of GRECO recommendations.
The Report indicates the current low level of harmonisation with GRECO recommendations, is not ”globally dissatisfactory“. Out of 15 GRECO recommendations under IV evaluation cycle, 11 were partially implemented and four were unimplemented. An important progress in this exercise is expected take place in the next 18 months.
The report will be made public at the Ministry of Security of BIH and GRECO web sites.
MORE NOTABLE ECONPMIC PROGRESS TO BE EXPECTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of information of the Directorate for Economic Planning of BIH on prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2019-2020, which indicated that a more evident economic progress is to be expected.
So, during the referred period of time, an average real terms economic growth of 3.6 per cent could be expected, with annual investment growth of 10 per cent, employment increase, increase of industrial production for over five per cent, in addition to further intensification of foreign exchange with the world.
CoM BIH – CROATIAN GOVERNMENT JONT SESSION CONCLUSIONS ON TRGOVSKA GORA
The Council of Ministers of BIH considered information from a joint session of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Republic of Croatia, held in early July 2017 in Sarajevo, on discussions concerning an intention of the Republic of Croatia to develop a depot and landfill of radioactive waste, used sources and used nuclear fuel at the Trgovska Gora site, micro-site Čerkezovac in the Municipality of Dvor, Republic of Croatia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH will prepare for the Council of Ministers a consolidated report to include information by the State Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety and Task Force for Monitoring Situation and Activities concerning the possible nuclear waste landfill development at the Trgovska Gora, for the aim of implementation of earlier adopted conclusions.
The joint session concluded that the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Republic of Croatia are in agreement to take all needed activities to solve the issue in compliance with the existing conventions and professional standards.
The Council of Ministers of BIH, calling upon the May 2016 BIH Parliamentarian Assembly Resolution, declared its commitment to protect the air, soil, waters and all natural resources situated in the vicinity of the Trgovska Gora, for the sake of protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to damping nuclear waste.
In the case of absence of joint activities with precisely set assignments and deadlines for the execution thereof, Espoo Convention mechanisms will be started together with other mechanisms, according to rules and norms of the international law.
EXPORT OF GOODS FORM JOINT LIST OF ARMS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH, adopted, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH, a Report on issued documents and refused applications for documents issuance for foreign trade with arms, military equipment and special purpose goods for year 2016, in addition to a Report on realisation of issued documents for foreign trade with arms, military equipment and special purpose goods for year 2016.
According to issued documents for export under the Joint List of Arms and Military Equipment in the reported period of time, the value of export, based on pro-forma invoices was EUR 305,025.00, while the import value was EUR 38,113,123.00.
Total issued was 201 documents for export opt 50 countries of the world and 117 documents for import from 30 countries of the world. Three applications for permit for export of arms and military equipment were refused, of total value of EUR 351,566.00 and one application for import of arms and military equipment, worth EUR 102,903.50 due to unfulfilled procedure required under the Law on Control of Foreign Trade with Arms, Military Equipment and Special Purpose Goods.
The value of export of goods from the list of special purpose goods in the reported period of time, based on provided pro-forma invoices, was EUR 80,682,629.00, while the values of imported goods was EUR 50,644,100.00. Total 66 permits were issued for export in 25 countries of the world, and 254 documents for import form 29 countries of the world. One application for export/import of special purpose goods was refused because of incompliance with relevant procedure.
INCREASED NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONS USING CONSLUTATIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Justice of BIH on implementation of the rules for consultations in development of legal acts for 2017, which suggests that the number of institutions using e-consultations last year increased to 39 from previous 25.
All institutions appointed coordinators for consultations and their deputies, with consultation rules in place to give a sound framework for participation and public input in development of legal acts in the Institutions of BIH.
All institutions failing to register for web application for e-consultations should do so and do consultations via the web application, in compliance with Consultations Rules in development of legal acts.
More conclusions adopted at the session will improve the process and incite stake-holders to get included into the creation of public policies.
PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION FOR BIH ISNTITUTIONS IN SARAJEVO AND MOSTAR
The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the General Service Affairs of BIH Institutions took a decision on purchase of a building for accommodations of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Mostar, after it took note of a Report on implementation of facilities purchase procedure for accommodation of the BIH Institutions in Mostar.
It is a building of 1,256.83 m2 worth KM 3.6 million for the needs of the State Investigations and Protection Agency of BIH (SIPA).
The purchase of the building will save budget funds previously paid for rental costs amounting KM 182,000.00 annually.
Also, a Decision was made on purchase of a building for accommodation of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in East Sarajevo of 1,221.02 m2 size, worth KM 2,999,630.98.
All BIH Institutions with their seat in East Sarajevo will be accommodated in this building. Payment will be realised in two parts, namely KM 2 million in 2018, and KM 999,630.98 in 2019.
The purchase of the building will make annual saving in the Budget of about KM 184,000.00 against the rent paid previously by BIH institutions for accommodation in east Sarajevo.
The General Affairs Service of BIH Institutions will send the separate proposals building purchase contract with accompanying documentation to the BIH Defence Office for opinion, decisive for the decisions implementation.
USE OF EU LAISSEZ PASSER PROLONGED FOR A YEAR
The Council of Ministers of BIH prolonged the use of the European emergency travel list for return (EU – Laisez Passer), issued by competent bodies of the FR Germany, which will be valid for BIH citizens on their return/deportation/expulsion to Bosnia and Herzegovina by June 30, 2019.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took this conclusion after it considered information by the Ministry of Security, indicating that from December 2015 to May 11 this year, 1,025 citizens of BIH were returned, our of 2,114 announced for return from this country.
Total 429 citizens were admitted with Laissez Pass document, 560 with BIH passport, 25 with personal ID card and 10 with travel list of BIH, while admission of 46 persons was refused, because it was established that they were not BIH citizens.
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