Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 164th Session

DRAFT BUDGET CONSIDERED 

The Council of Ministers of BIH will, after the Ministry of Finance and Treasury includes a technical correction, adopted today, reflect on a Draft Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2019.

The total revenues, receivables and finance g of institutions of BIH in 2019 are KM 966,000,000, which is for KM 16 million more, while foreign debt servicing is KM 825,760,678, and is less for KM 178,301,651 in relation to the last year.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defines the Budget Law and provides it to the BIH Presidency, responsible to propose it.

 

STRENGTHENING OF BORDER COOPERATION OF BIH AND EU

 

The Council of Ministers defined a proposal of a Status Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union on activities implemented by the Agency for European Border and Coastal guard at the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By concluding the Agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union strengthen and institutionalise their border cooperation, including harmonisation of an operative plan, simplification and acceleration of common border interventions, as well as cooperation with other EU agencies and bodies.

The cooperation includes joint operations, implying acting and suppression of illegal migrations, i.e. cross-border crime.

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

 

TO PROTECT ENTREPRENEURS AND PUBLIC INTEREST

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, on non-preferential origins of goods, for the purpose of protection of entrepreneurs and of public interest.

This decision is meant to secure that all actors in procedure have clearly defined rights, obligations and responsibilities.

The decision sets forth conditions and procedure for attaining a non-preferential origin of goods, required documentation, administrative cooperation, and control and supervision.

The decision stems from the Law on Customs Policy in BIH, relevant EU regulations, World Trade organisation rules and guidelines of the Wold Customs Organisation.

 

EXTENTION OF TEMPORARY STAY FOR SYRIANS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, took a decision on establishing justifiable reasons of humanitarian nature for an extension of temporary stay to citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic.

The justifiable reasons of humanitarian nature are considered to be unfavourable security situation and the life threatening situation in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The extension of temporary stay for humanitarian reasons up to one year at longest may be approved to a citizen of the Syrian Arab Republic upon his request provided that he already has his temporary stay approval issued based on this decision and not contrary to the Law on Foreigners.

The procedure for extension of temporary stay for humanitarian reasons is run by the Foreigners’ Affairs Service.

A foreigner may complain against such decision to the Ministry of Security.

 

FORESTS CERTIFICATION IN BIH

 

More than half of state-owned forests have been certified, reads information on coordination and harmonisation of procedures for fulfilment of international obligations and trade standards in connection with the European Parliament and Council Regulation on Wood (EU No. 995/2010) on defining obligations of economic entities marketing wood and wood-made products, adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH at today’s session.

According to the Ministry of foreign trade and econ0mic relations, sic public forestry companies have FSC/FM/ COC certificates, while other companies are in the process of preparation for forest certifying or plan to start it.

The certifying of state-owned forests on BIH evidently brought an increase of wood sector, which has a positive trade balance and in the total BIH export it accounts for 12%.

The wood processing sector is an export-oriented sector and it makes surplus in foreign exchange with a steady increase trend, and it is among the most important BIH exporters.

In 2016, the export of the state sector was KM 1,188,865,450, which was for 12.1% higher than in 2015, while in 2017 it was increased for 9.2% to reach KM 1,297,918,763.

 

CONTINUOUS WORK ON HARMONISATION OF REGULATIONS IN FISHERY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and economic relations on taking up activities at harmonisation of domestic legislation and implementation of acquis for fishery and aquaculture.

The Ministry will in the period to come focus at harmonisation of regulations, promotion of this economic branch, applying for international funds for development of research infrastructure, improve internal coordination and control and promotion of international cooperation.

The total production of consumption fish in 2017 was 3,761 tone, of which 81% was breeding of trot.

There is a lot of space for improvement in this area, since capacities for production of all sorts of fish in BIH are estimated at about 13,000 tones.

Fish and fish products are one of strategic products of animal origin, which BIH may export to the EU.

 

AGRICULTURAL LAND IAS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on measures undertaken in the area of agricultural land policy, which suggests that there are considerable development capacities in the area and that relevant activities are continued for the improvement of the capacities.

The agricultural land in BH is primary resource conditioning the volume and structure of agricultural production. Total surfaces under cultivation are at average 530 thousand ha, of which fallow land and non-ploughed land about 480 thousand ha.

According to statistics, in 2017 in spring sowing, 536,554 ha was sowed, while on autumn sowing 118,667 ha was processed, which is for 7,586 ha or 7% more than in the year before. In the structure of sowed surfaces, about 60% was under cereals, 24% under fodder, 13%  vegetables,  2%  industrial herbs, 1% under strawberries and raspberries, and 0.2% was under spices, aromatic and medial herbs.

 

TO KEEP EXISTING AND ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on implementation of the Investment Reform Regional Agenda (RIRA), with an Action Plan containing a package of reform activities to be implemented by Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities in 2019-2020 for the sake of achieving the Agenda-set aims.

The reform activities were structured by areas of investment policy, namely entrance and setting-up of investments, their protection and maintenance, and investment attraction and promotion.

The aim of the investment reforms agenda is a higher harmonisation of the Western Balkans six economies’ investment policies with the European Union standards and good international practice within the South-East Europe 2020 Strategy, Central-European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), as well as pre-accession processes and the European Union accession process.

The Agenda was finally approved at the Western Balkans Prime Ministers’ Summit in London, On July 10, 2018.

 

MIGRANTS SITUATION IN 2018

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information from the Ministry of Security on situation in the area of migrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning an increased inflow of migrants during 2018.

The Foreigners’ Affairs Service got registered 23,902 illegal migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina in time span January-December 2018, and their intention to seek asylum was stated by 22,499 individuals, of which 1,567 applied for asylum.

The major number of migrants came from: Pakistan (7,770); Iran (3,663); Syria (3,017); Afghanistan (2,780); and Iraq (2,184). Other migrant groups came from Libya (879), Palestine (752), Algeria (477), Bangladesh (452), and India (416).

During the last year, a continued growth of migrant numbers was noticed in BIH all until October, thereafter the migrants’ inflow dropped.

 

REGIONAL YOUTH COOPERATION OFFICE FINANCES SIX PROJECTS IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). And took several conclusions, the realisation of which will increase the number of BIH applications at the office open calls.

The first RYCO call showed that there is an interest among schools and civil society for topics of reconciliation and inter-cultural learning.

The RYCO resources, in a full amount of EUR 151,504.47 support six projects in BIH, proposed by four civil society organisations and two secondary schools, while related contracts were signed in May 2018.

Total supported and selected were 34 projects from six states of the region at the first RYCO open call, receiving more than 400 applications, among which 56 from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

INFORMATION ON STATISCTIC INDICES IN EDUCATION ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information by the Ministry of civil Affairs on statistical indices in education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely, the preschool, primary, secondary and high education.

In the academic 2017/18 year, 321 preschool institutions (187 public and 134 private) enrolled 25,889 children, among whom 544 with special needs. In relation to the previous academic year, the number of preschool institutions is less for 3.3 %, while the number of children attending them increased for 3.9%. Because of full capacities in year 2017/18, total 2,777 children were not admitted to preschool institutions. Securing of access and increase of coverage by preschool education remain the most important priority in the area.

In the academic 2017/18 year, 1,817 primary schools enrolled 282,946 pupils. Total 38 schools enrolled children with special needs. In relation to the previous year, the number of enrolled pupils was less for 19,187.

In the same school year, 311 secondary schools enrolled 124,148 students, which is less for 2,676 students or 2% in relation to the year 2016/17.

According to the Centre for Information and Recognition of High Education Documents, there are 50 licenced high education institutions, while the BIH Agency for High Education Development and Quality Insurance lists 30 high education institutions among accredited institutions, and two holding conditional accreditation.

In the academic 2017/18 year, 93,984 students were enrolled in the first cycle of high education, including the integrated studies, among whom 11,058 advanced university students. Over the reported period of time, 11,360 students enrolled the post–graduate, master and specialist studies, while 856 students enrolled doctoral studies. In time between 2013 and 2018, the number of students was decreased for 19,306. The total public expenditures for formal education in the Federation of BIH in 2017 were KM 841,304,201, and in Republika Srpska they were KM 407,935,376.

 

HARMONISATION OF RULEBOOK HARMONSIATION WITH EU REGULATIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Rulebook, proposed by the Food Safety Agency, on Amendments and Supplements to the Rulebook on maximal levels of pesticides residuals on and in fodder of herbal and animal origin.

The rulebook provides for maximal allowed quantities of pesticides in and on food, fodder of herbal and animal origin, which quantities are being harmonised with maximal allowed levels in the European Union.

The aim is to secure a high consumer protection level, in compliance with general principles set forth under the Law on Food, and to enable equal market conditions to entities dealing with food.

Upon a proposal of the Food Security Agency of BIH, the Council of Ministers took a rulebook on abolishing a Rulebook on flour quantities used for production of bakery products, because of its uneven application, thereby endorsing initiatives by entities dealing with food and authorised bodies.

Abolishing the previous Rulebook will not affect the products health safety, while official control and inspection supervision will be implemented as it was provided by the existing piece of law and bylaws.

 

“DIASPORA FOR DEVELOPMENT” PROJECT CONTINUES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on implementation of the “Diaspora for development” project, the realisation of which corresponds with aims and activities set forth in a document titled the Cooperation with Emigration Policy.

The Ministry for Human rights and refugees will continue its activities on realisation of the project, contributing improvement of life quality of citizens in BIH by way of having a stronger cooperation with Diaspora.

The Report gives a detailed review of achieved results in the project implementation in the last and this year within the “Diaspora for Development” Project, consisting three key components and tens of project activities.

 

SIX APPROVED RSP PROJECTS:  3,192 HOUSING UNITS FOR 10,000 INDIVIDUALS IN BIH

 

By the realisation of six approved sub-projects from a multi-donor Fund for Regional housing Programme (RSP), administered by the Council of Europe Development Bank, BIH will solve housing problems with 3,192 housing solutions for 10 thousand individuals.

This is stated in the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees implementation report for a Framework Agreement between the Council of Europe Development Bank and Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the Regional Housing Programme (RSP).

By the end of 2018, construction of 520 buildings was finalised with total 699 housing units, of which seven buildings with 185 apartments and 514 family houses. The reconstruction and construction of 855 housing units in in the process, of which 509 houses and 346 apartments.

The Regional Housing Programme provides for housing solutions for almost 27,000 refugee and displaced persons families in four countries of the region, i.e. about 74,000 beneficiaries, of which 5,400 families in BIH or 14,000 refugees and displaced persons.

The realisation of the six approved sub-projects in BIH fulfilled more than 70% of aims, as per the number of individuals to be provided with housing under the Framework Agreement.

 

TO SECURE BTEER COMMUNCIATION WITH DIASPORA: “STRONGER TOGETHER/BETTER TOGETHER”

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees Report on realisation of activities on drafting a Communications Plan with Diaspora, seeking an effective and regular communication with Diaspora.

The Ministry for Human Rights and refugees will launch activities on realisation of aims of the Plan for Communication with Diaspora, which will be provided to the BIH diplomatic-consular offices in the world, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The vision of the Communication Plan is to secure timely and consistent information to Diaspora, enable connection of emigrants and their affiliate organisations mutually and with responsible institutions in BIH, promote confidence in BIH Institutions with Diaspora, and secure better visibility of activities undertaken by het Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.

Changes in communication imply the inclusion into communication and organisation of civil society, media, business community, and promotion of www.dijaspora.mhhr.gov.ba portal as easy accessible channel for two way communication.

Unter the moto “Stronger Together/Better Together”, the campaign will be focused at youth, business and academic communities, families, friends, NGOs and GOs, practically all structures of society in het country and abroad.

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