Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 147th Session

Council of Ministers Monitors Continuously Migrant Crisis Situation 

The Council of Ministers, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, took note of information concerning situation with migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in connection with an increased migrants’ inflow.

It was concluded that the processes and management of the migrant crisis are kept under control, as much as possible though, and that migrant wave and reactions from migrant countries of origin as of EU countries are followed-up.

In order to have success in prevention of illegal migrants entering BIH, as well as their smuggling, it is necessary to intensify border control activities. In that regard, the Border Police is urged to step-up admission of cadets.

In time period from January 1 to June 21, 2018, total 7,128 illegal migrants were registered in BIH. Their intention to seek asylum in BIH was shown by 6,354 persons, while only 611 of them applied for asylum, which speak enough that the migrants are not interested in staying in BIH.

After the Government of the Federation of BIH grants its consent, the “Ušivak” military barracks, near Hadžići, together with “Agrokomerc” company facility in Velika Kladuuša  will be put into function of accommodation of migrants. According to some estimates, there sre between 1,600 and 1,800 migrants staying n the Unsko-Sanski Canton.

 

2017-2020 BIH Mid-Term Debt Management Strategy Adopted

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, adopted a 2017-2020 BIH Mid-Term Debt Management Strategy.

The BIH Mid-Term Debt Management Strategy was set and reflected under a BIH Reform Agenda Action Plan.

The Proposal Strategy was sent for opinion and commentaries to the BIH Central Bank, Entity Finance Ministries, and Brčko District Finance Directorate, and accepted commentaries will be incorporated into the text Strategy. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH should, in future borrowing decision-making, apply guidelines defined under the BIH 2017-2020 Mid-Term Debt Management Strategy. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will post the Strategy at the Ministry’s web site.

 

Collected Route Levies Distributed in BIH Air Space for 2018

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, took a decision on distribution of collected revenues from service provision in air navigation (route levies) in year 2018.

According to the Decision, het Air Navigation Service Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHANSA) will get KM 51,955,561, together with EUROCOTROL costs of KM 3,588,532, while the Directorate for Civil Aviation (BHJDCA) will get KM 2,274,863.

Service providers outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agency for Air Traffic Control of Serbia and Montenegro (SMATSA) will get KM 11,990,640 and Croat Air Navigation control (CCL) will get KM 15,544,153.

 

Public Competition for Culture, Sports, Innovations Grants

The Council of Ministers of BIH took six decision defining criteria for allocation of grant funds of the Ministry of Civil Affairs for year 2018 for projects in the areas of culture, sports, innovations, support to preparation of projects and candidate projects for H2020 Fund resources, as well as for co-financing of NGOs projects in HIV and TBC prevention activities in BIH.

Grants will be allocated from the current following grants: “International Cultural Cooperation”, in amount of KM 390,000; “Co-Financing of Projects by Cultural Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, in amount of KM 117,000; “Support to Technical Culture and Innovations in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, in amount of KM 117,000; “Co-Financing of Sports Events”, in amount of KM 1,352,000, “Programmes for Preparation of Projects and Potential Project Candidates for H2020 Funds”, in amount of KM 444,000; and “Co-Financing of NGOs Projects for HIV and TBC Prevention”, in amount of KM 50,000.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will, by way of public competition, publish the procedure and way of funds allocation intended for each separate grant, and information on competition will be published in three daily papers in BIH and at the Ministry’s web site.

 

Public Call for Grant Allocation for Promotion of Domestic Production

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on criteria for allocation of current grants approved to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH for support to fairs and other events and activities in country and abroad for the purpose of promotion of domestic production. It is a KM 750k worth grant to be distributed, by way of a public call, to organisers of fairs and other events in the country, in amount of KM 400,000, and KM 350,00 for events abroad, under criteria and conditions defined by the decision.

 

Implementation of Returnees Reintegration Project under Readmission Agreement

The Council of Ministers of BIH  adopted information of the Ministry for Human Rights and refugees on implementation of the “Integrated Support Programme for Returnees Reintegration based on Readmission Agreement”- Phase 3 for time period between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017.

Over the reported period, all the activities were made mostly in compliance with planned project dynamics (prearrangement of meetings and a round table, Mostar-Salakovac Readmission Centre staff certification, procurement of office supplies and other activities). The amount of the first instalment paid for the project implementation in CHF was equivalent KM 434,635.36. The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH transferred KM 100,000.00 to 11 local communities and the Bjelave Orphanage in Sarajevo, by the end December 2017, based on a decision by the Minister on grant funds distribution to municipalities included in the readmission system and integration of BIH citizens returning based on the readmission agreement. The funds transfer corresponds to activities under a 2015-2018 Action Plan, a part of the State Strategy for acceptance and integration of BIH citizens returning based on readmission agreements. The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be reporting Council of Ministers of BIH at least once a year, or more frequently if required, the project realisation, and will keep the BIH Presidency informed of the same.

 

Facilitation of Border Crossing by BIH, Serbia and Montenegro Border Areas Residents

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for negotiations and conclusion of an Agreement on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on brooder crossings for border area traffic.

The Amendments and Supplements include setting-up a joint border control, regulation of border area traffic regime to enable smoother state border crossing by residents living in border areas of the two states.

The Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina will provide the Proposal Platform to the BIH Presidency or further procedure, with a proposal for the Ministry of Security to be the BIH signatory.

 

Implementation of EU Energy Efficacy Directives and Regulations

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Initiative for negotiations on a Loan Agreement (Energy Efficacy Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina - II) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The proposed project will offer an absolute support to fulfilment of obligations and aims from the Energy Community Agreement. The authorities committed, under the Agreement, to take over and implement relevant Directives and Regulations of the EU from the energy efficacy area, in addition to further supporting employment and economic growth. Also, the implementation of energy efficacy measures will make 30-60% savings per each facility, which will positively affect budgets and energy-related costs.

The above project is a follow-up of the First Energy Efficacy Project (BEEP), based on October 29, 2014 Financial Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Development Association worth SDR 20,800,000.00 (equivalent USD 32 million), of which withdrawn was SDR 16,455,635.00 or about USD 24 million as at March 31m 2018.

 

MOFTER Information on Goods Origin Definition

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, adopted three pieces of information referring to control and monitoring of goods origin and implementation of international treaties and relevant domestic laws and by-laws.

These are: Information on realisation of a decision on control and monitoring of fulfilment of  obligations taken under international a bilateral and multilateral contracts, agreements and conventions in view of definition of goods origin in 2017; Information on checking of Bosnia and Herzegovina origin for good subject to  FROMA A  customs procedure for January 1 – December 31, 2017; and Information on monitoring of implementation of a Regulation on special conditions for marketed flour registering and labelling in time period from January 1 to December 31, 2017.

The adopted information pertain to service provision to other counterparts in bilateral and multilateral agreements on customs cooperation, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and application of rules on origin of goods in connection with preferential treatment of goods in international sales, as well as to regular reporting to competent foreign and domestic institutions on application of origin-related laws and by-laws.

Previously, compliance to the CEFTA Agreement provisions in connection to origin of goods was monitored and controlled, through contacts with the Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH and with domestic companies. The Customs Policy Regulation Implementation Division had in 2017 total 58 cases, where it conducted monitoring both directly and indirectly. The factual state was defined for all cases, and law-based solutions offered.

 

BIH Armed Forces Modernisation Plan Implementation

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Ministry of Defence on activities on the “Defence Review” Implementation Plan and “Bosnia and Herzegovina Armed Forces 2017-2017 Development and Modernisation Plan” Implementation Action Plan.

The BIH AF Joint Staff is holder of development of 16 projects contained in the “2017-2017 BIH AF Development and Modernisation Plan”.

Under the plan, 2017 was decided to be the year of development of project documentation for defined projects, except for “Anti-armoured systems modernisation” project, the documentation for which was planned to be prepared in 2018. So, total 12 drafts projects were made, while currently in the process of development are draft projects for “Modernisation of Infantry armament and equipment”, “Modernisation of communication systems and equipment” and “Infrastructural refurbishment of sites and facilities”.

The Ministry of Defence should continue its activities on implementation of the “Defence Review” Implementation Plan and “BIH AF 2017-2017 Development and Modernisation Plan” Implementation Action Plan, according to the established dynamics.

 

Reports Adopted on Grant Funds Spending

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on assigned spending of funds for the “Co-Financing of Sports Events” current grant for year 2017.

The total available funds for the “Co-Financing of Sports Events” current grant for 2017 were KM 1,352,000.00.

Out of total grant amount, the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Para-Olympic Committee of BIH, Special Olympics in BIH, sports federations registered at the levels of BIH and Entities and sports federations of disabled persons registered at the level of BIH and Entities got KM 676,000.00. The same amount of funds was dedicated to sports clubs, sports schools and sports academies in BIH, either organising or participating in sports events. A public competition for distribution of the funds was published, and received were 326 applications, of which 144 were accompanied by proper documentation.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on realisation of KM 117,000 allocated based on current grants for science and innovations in 2017 and KM 444,000, allocated to “Programmes for preparation of projects and potential candidate-projects resources from  Horizon 2020 Fund ”.

 

Laboratory Food Analysis in BIH Made in 2017

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report by the BIH Food Safety Agency on food safety situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2017.

According to data presented to the Agency by food control laboratories (from public health, veterinary, agriculture and private sector domains), total 93,222 samples of food were processed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January1-December 31, 2017 time period. Of that number of samples, 4,453 or 4.78 were improper. The total number of analyses of food on processed number of samples were 131,029.

The collected, processed and evaluated data, presented in the report give an insight into the results of laboratory food analyses, epidemiologic data on illnesses transferred by food, and data on registered cases of zoonosis, and they serve for risk assessment purposes and trends monitoring in the area of food safety. The data may be used in development of control plans, based on risk assessment.

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