Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 146th Session

TO PROTECT PROPERTY OF BIH CITIZENS AND LEGAL PERSONS IN CROATIA 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered an Activities Report concerning protection of the property and rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Croatia. The Council of Ministers requested the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Treasury, Justice, Supreme Attorney’s Office, BIH representatives in the Standing Joint Board of Successor Countries High Representatives to prepare, in compliance with their competences, a detailed information for the first next session, supplied by a proposal measures for protection of BIH property in the Republic of Croatia and in other neighbouring countries, as well. Also information was requested concerning the implementation of all other annexes to the Agreement on Succession Issues.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of information from the Supreme Attorney Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning solution-finding to property-legal relations concerning state property in the Republic of Croatia.

According to the Report, the Supreme Attorney’s Office of BIH has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina and continues to do so in seven litigations, in which Bosnia and Herzegovina claims immovable property from the third persons in the Republic of Croatia. The all subject property is situated in the Republic of Croatia, and all procedures were taken before the competent courts of that state.

It is the property that includes the Sports-Recreation Centre in Zaostrog, Climate Resort Vis, Vila and Hospital in Cavtat.

 

INFORMATION ON MIGRATIONS SITUATION

 

The Council of Ministers was informed of the current developments in the area of migrations and increased migrant in-flow to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it expects continued control of BIH border towards Serbia and Montenegro, i.e. inclusion of available all-level BIH police capacities.

The Council of Ministers was informed of preparations for holding of a donor conference in Sarajevo, given the expressed readiness of certain states and international organisations to financially support BIH in overcoming the migrant crisis.

The Council of Ministers expect the Government of the Federation of BIH to take decision on the Ušivak facility near Hadžići and a facility in the Unsko-Sanski Canton, both of which  should be allocated  for the migrants accommodation.

According to available data, in time period between January 1 and June 13 this year, the BIH Foreigner’s Affairs Service registered 6,513 illegal migrants, of which 5,887 expressed their intention to seek asylum, while 611 of them filled in the application.

As it was heard at the session, no migrant was approved asylum in BIH, and out of total number of migrants that entered BIH, them 70 per cent left the state,

According the relevant Readmission Agreement, BIH accepted 292 persons from Croatia, while 571 migrant was returned from BIH to other states, on the same principle.

Information suggests that the Urgent Measures Action Plan is in implementation, and it contained five priorities, 17 measures and 73 activities.

The priorities were directed to strengthening of the BIH Border Police for the sake of improved border control and prevention of illegal entries to the BIH territory, strengthening of capacities of the Foreigners’ Affairs Service and Ministry of Security Migrations Department, strengthening of asylum relevant capacities and intensification of combat against smuggling of migrants, as well as strengthening of readmission capacities with the realisation of the Readmission Agreements.

 

EXCHANGED AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BIH AND EC – “IPA ADRIATIC CROSS BORDER COOPERATION STERNGHTENING PROGAMME”

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Financing Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission on amending a Financial Agreement  between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission, referring to “IPA Adriatic Cross Border Cooperation Programme within the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance (shared management), with a Platform for its conclusion.

The projects under the programme have already been implemented, so that the amendments primarily refer to general principles for the programme closure.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Director of the Directorate for European Integrations was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

BIH – CHINA: AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN AREA OF ANIMAL HEALTH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on cooperation in the area of animal health and quarantine.

The Agreement provides for the parties signatories to accept the concept ”One World, One Health” and to set-up mechanisms for cooperation in the cross-border control of animal illnesses. BIH and China committed under the Agreement to facilitate cooperation in management, science, technology and to exchange information on trade with animals and products of animal origin.

The bodies responsible for implementation of the Agreement are the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and Veterinary Office of BIH, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and General Customs Administration of the People’s Republic of China.

The Proposal Contract will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Affairs Mirko Šarović was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

STATE ANNUAL CUSTOMERS PROTECTION PLAN ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, took a decision on adoption of the State Annual Consumer Protection Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2018.

The Programme was prepared by the BIH Consumer Protection Council for the improvement of quality of life of BIH citizens and harmonisation of the area with the European Union standards.

The aim is, among other things, to create conditions for an effective solving of detected problems in the area of consumer protection, and secure support to consumers in exercising their rights.

 

BUDGET EXECTUIION REPORT FOR Q1 THIS YEAR ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on Budget Execution of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for quarter I-III 2018.

Total realised revenues and financial support for BIH Institutions in Q 1  this year were KM 219,752,019, and total expenditures were KM 2215,526,265.

Employees’ salaries and emoluments remained at the same level as in 2912, as a continuation of savings exercise on salaries and material expenses in the BIH Institutions. In the Q 1 2018, based on foreign debt obligations, total KM 211.33 million were paid, which fully fulfilled all the assumed obligations. The principal repayments accounted for KM 180.88 million, while interest, service and other fees accounted for KM 20.56 million.

 

MORE THAN KM 14.9 FOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, took a decision on the use of transferred special-purpose resources paid based on allocated licences for universal mobile telecommunications systems in 2016 in amount of KM 17,602,470.00.

Out of these funds, 14,462,099.50 or 85 % is to be directed to financing of preparations for and construction of road infrastructure, and KM 2,640,370.50 or 15 % is directed for communications sector development.

Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, took a decision on amendment of Decision on distribution of resources received for allocated licences for universal mobile communication systems.

This way, a part of unused funds from licences for UMTS, distributed based on earlier decisions, is being redirected for co-financing of new projects of construction of road infrastructure in several cities and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

CONDITIONS FOR IMPROVED ELECTRONIC SERVICES TO CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, took a decision on adoption of an Interoperability Framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By the decision, the Council of Ministers of BIH creates conditions for development and better electronic service provision to citizens and economic entities, local authorities and other user groups.

The Council of Ministers of BIH thus accepts recommendations and guidelines by the European Interoperability Framework 2.0, by which an improvement is made to the public administration reform, as well s to the process of exchange of electronic documents and services between same or different levels of administration, including with institutions of the European Union and governments of other starts.

Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH secures institutional readiness to provide to all authority levels public registers for electronic services, namely, in the first phase economic subjects and legal persons register for 2018, in the second phase population and registry books in 2019, while in the third phase register of spatial data, facilities and GIS cards (geographic information system) by the end of 2010. The decision will be implemented by the Interoperability Coordination under the Council of Ministers of BIH.

 

UP-GRADING OF BIH INDIRECT TAXATION ADMINISTRATION CUSTOMS MANAGEMENT SUB-SYSTEM IN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on approval of a “Indirect Taxation Administration Information System Customs Sub-System Up-Grading Project”, worth KM 1 million to be secured from the Russian Federation clearing debt.

The up-grading of the existing version of customs sub-system improves the further implementation of the relevant EU legislation.

A web portal “e-customs” will be established under the project.

 

DEI POOL: BIH ACCESSION TO EU SUPOPRTED BY MORE TTHAN 56% REPONDENTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information by the Directorate of European Integrations on results of public opinion research “Positions of citizens on membership in the European Union and EU integrations process”, conducted in March and April 2018.

The entry to the EU is supported by 70.6 % respondents from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 30.3 % respondents from Republika Srpska, and 75% respondents from the Brčko District of BIH.

 

2.nd MONITORING REPORT OF ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BH took note of both the Second Monitoring Report of Anti-Corruption Strategy Implementation and Anti-Corruption Strategy Implementation 2016-2019 Action Plan, prepared by the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Anti-Corruption Coordination of BIH.

The Second Monitoring Report covers 68 strategic programmes elaborated into 186 activities classified by different deadlines.

According to the Report, realised were 63 activities, partially realised were 42 activities, with 26 activities currently in the process of realisation. Also, 50 activities are being currently implemented, while five activities were not realised.

 

UN DEVELOPMENT AID FRAMEWORK EXTENDED TO 2020

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approved a one-year prolongation of the United Nations Development Aid, specifically by year 2020.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, in May 1015, a Joint Programme and Budget Framework of the United Nations for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2015-2019 – United Nations Development Aid Framework.

It is a comprehensive strategic programme document with 13 strategic aims grouped in four areas of development cooperation between the United Nations Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and general government of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The cooperation areas are the rule of law and security of people, sustainable and even development and employment, social inclusion, education, social and child protection, health and women empowerment.

 

Q1 EXPORT INCREASED FOR 12%

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, adopted an Analysis of foreign exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January-March 2018, which suggests that over the reported period of time total foreign trade exchange amounted to KM 7.18 billion and was increased for 11 per cent in relation to the same period of time last year.

The main features are an increase of export of 12 per cent with increase of import for 10 per cent, and increase of the coverage of import by export for one per cent.

The European Union is still our main foreign trade partner, so that in a full volume of exchange it participates with 65 5, followed by countries-signatories of the CEFTA 2006 Agreement with 13 per cent, while other counties participate with 22 per cent.

 

COORDINATION TEAM FOR PREPARATION OF BIH PARTICIPATION AT LONDON SUMMIT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took a decision to appoint a Coordination Team for preparation of participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a Summit in London.

The Western Balkans Summit will be held on July 9 and 10 this year within the British chairmanship of the Berlin Process, and BIH delegation will be led by Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Dr Denis Zvizdić.

Together with the regional Prime Ministers meeting on July 10, the Summit will gather Foreign Affairs Ministers, along with Ministers of Security and Interior of the Western Balkans at separate meetings on July 9 in London, while a regional meeting of Ministers of Economy will be held in Vienna on July4.

 

STAFF CAPACITATING OF FOREIGNERS’ AFFAIRS SERVICE AND MINISTRY OF SECURITY

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a separate decisions on approving additional recruitments with the Foreigners’ Affairs Service and Ministry of Security, with an aim at their cadre strengthening and realisation of a Urgent Measures Plan, being implemented in BIH for prevention of illegal entries by migrants and accommodation thereof in our country.

Additional 14 officers will be employed in the Foreigners’ Affairs Service in the Immigration Centre and in field centres, among whom, there will be 10 new inspectors for foreigners, and 9 new officers in the Ministry of Security.

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