Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 153rd Session

The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted a report on Budget Execution of Institutions of B-H and International Obligations of B-H for q I-III of 2011. 

The Council of Ministers of B-H did not come out on a Proposal of Memorandum of Understanding “Documents Management System and Integral Protection System for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina” to be concluded between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway and International Management Group (IMG).

The Council of Ministers of B-H defined a Proposal of the text Memorandum of Understanding on Establishment of Fund for Implementation of B-H Justice Sector Reform”.

The proposer, Minister of Justice of B-H, will provide the text MoU to the Presidency of B-H for further procedure, and the Minister of Justice of B-H is proposed as B-H signatory of the MoU.

The Council of Ministers of B-H defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of an Arrangement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Korea on a loan of the Fund for Economic Development and Cooperation for the Hospital Modernisation Project Phase III.

The proposer, Ministry of Finance and Treasury of B-H, will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency of B-H for further procedure, and Minister of Finance and Treasury of B-H is proposed as signatory of the Arrangement on behalf of B-H.

The Council of Ministers of B-H tasked the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to warn Entity Finance Ministries of delays in funds withdrawal procedures, for IFIs funds for which high penalty charges are payable, for a more expeditious approach is suggested.

The Council of Ministers of B-H defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Australia on Annulment of Visa Requirements for Holders of B-H Diplomatic and Service Passports.

The proposer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of B-H, will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency of B-H for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of B-H is proposed as signatory of the Agreement on behalf of B-H.

The Council of Ministers of B-H defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Activities and Status of the British Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The proposer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of B-H, will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency of B-H for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of B-H is proposed as signatory of the MoU on behalf of B-H.

The Council of Ministers of B-H is informed of a Report on Procedures Implemented and Tasks Fulfilled, with a proposal of the most appropriate offer for purchase of a building for the B-H Embassy in Berlin.

The Council of Ministers of B-H concluded that it should accept an offer of the Federal Real Estate Office of the Federal Republic Germany and, in connection to that, it took a Decision on Purchase of a Building for the B-H Embassy in Berlin. The Minister of Finance and Treasury of B-H is tasked for signing a Purchase Contract.

The Council of Ministers of B-H authorised the Minister of Finance and Treasury of B-H to sign the Purchase Contract, with an accepted objection that the heading of the letter of attorney is amended so as to read as follows: “The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina hereby .... Minister of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina Dragan Vrankić....”

The Council of Ministers of B-H took a Decision on allocation of funds earned from service provision in air traffic (route levies) in the air space of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2011.

The Council of Ministers of B-H took a Decision on Establishment of Control for Cross-Border Programmes with EU Members.

The Council of Ministers of B-H took a Decision on determination of a purpose of funds for multi-annual capital investment which were transferred into the budget of the Service for General Affairs of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2011.

The Council of Ministers of B-H did not come out on a Proposal on a level of reimbursement for acing Manager and acting Deputy Manager of the Agency for Service Provision in Air Traffic in Bosnia and Herzegovina (new text), since the proposed level of reimbursement is not lowered as previously suggested at the 144th session, held on Feb.24,2011.

The Council of Ministers of B-H took a Decision on Ways of Selection of Appellation Committee of the Institute for Intellectual Property of B-H.

 The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted Information on Revision of the Action Plan and Strategy of Public Administration Reform.

At the same time, the Council of Ministers of B-H adopted a Revised Action Plan 1 for implementation of the Public Administration Reform Strategy, which is also a part of this Information, and it will be considered and adopted by the Entity and Brčko District Governments.

The Council of Ministers of B-H, along with responsible institutions mentioned in the Revised Action Plan 1, will include the aims, activities and performance indicators from the Revised Action Plan 1 for Implementation of Public Administration Reform Strategy into their annual work programmes and other strategic planning documents, and the same will be made by the Entity and Brčko District Governments.

A political coordination of the public administration reform at the level of Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Prime Ministers of the Federation of B-H, Republika Srpska and Brčko District, provided for under a Joint Platform and Principles of Implementation of the Action Plan 1 of the Public Administration Reform Strategy, will be realised though a Coordination Board for Economic Development and European integrations, which would meet at least twice a year. Upon an agreement by Chairman of the Council of Ministers, and Prime Ministers of the Federation of B-H, Republika Srpska and Brčko District, the Coordination Board may hold sessions at the ministerial level, as authorised by the Council of Ministers and Governments.

The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted Information on a proposal for accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the “Europe for Citizens” Community Programme, and in that regard it concluded the following:

-          The Ministry of Justice of B-H is charged to start the procedure of accession to the “Europe for Citizens” Programme, and the preparations will include sending a Letter of Intent to the EU Directorate-General;

-          The Ministry of Justice is designated as a holder of activities concerning accession and participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the “Europe for Citizens” Programme, and it is charged to lead Programme accession negotiations on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

-          IPA funds would be planed for financing of B-H participation in the “Europe for citizens” Programme.

The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on the third meeting of the Transitional Sub-Committee for Trade, Industry, Customs, Taxation and Cooperation with Other EU Candidate-Countries held in Brussels on March 22-23, 2011, and concluded the following:

-          The Work Group for Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation, participant of the third meeting of the Transitional Sub-Committee for Trade, Industry, Customs, Taxation and Cooperation with Other EU Candidate-Countries, is in charge to undertake, urgently and in cooperation with competent institutions, all needed measures to prepare required documents and information for the European Commission, and deliver it to the Directorate for European Integrations by April 30, 2011; and

-          The Directorate for European Integrations is in charge to provide, though the Secretary of the Transitional Sub-Committee, to the European Commission in Brussels of all requested information translated into English language.

The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on the third meeting of the Transitional Sub-Committee for Economic and financial Issues and Statistics held in Brussels on May 18-19, 2011, and concluded the following:

-          The Work Group for Economic and financial Issues and Statistics is in charge to undertake, urgently and in cooperation with competent institutions, all needed measures to prepare required documents and information for the European Commission, and deliver it to the Directorate for European Integrations by June 10, 2011; and

-          The Directorate for European Integrations is in charge to provide, though the Secretary of the Transitional Sub-Committee, to the European Commission in Brussels of all requested information translated into English language.

The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Security of B-H on the “Joint Resistance - 2012” International Military Exercise, planned for May 14-14, 2012, with the proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of B-H considered and adopted a Work Programme and Financial Programme of the Agency for Service Provision in Air Traffic, for 2011.

The Council of Ministers of B-H granted its consent to a specification of working posts for the secondary education level as classified in salary categories in the Institution of Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an obligation to harmonise the specification with an opinion of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of B-H.

The Council of Ministers of B-H is informed of an application form for visa issuance for persons from Kosovo, participants of the Assembly and International Forum for transitional Justice of RECOM Coalition, to be held in Sarajevo on June 25-28, 2011.    

In regard to that, and in compliance with the Conclusion from the 86th session of the Council of Ministers of May 7, 2009, taken in connection with a Position of the Presidency of B-H on the issue of legality of documents in possession of Kosovo citizens, the Council of Ministers authorises the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue entry visas at a separate sheet for members of the delegation from Kosovo, indicated in the application, for their participation at mentioned Conference, to be held on June 25-28, 2011 for the period of the meeting.

The Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers is in charge to deliver the conclusion to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further procedure.

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