Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 28th Session
11/28/2012
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The DOP 2013-2014 provides no changes to planned finances of BIH Institutions in amount of KM 950 million and to revenues from the indirect taxes in amount of KM 790; funding of BIH institutions is planned to increase in 2015 for KM 30 million, and to amount to KM 980 million, while the allocation from the Single Treasury Account of the Indirect Taxation Administration will amount KM 780.
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Security, namely its Work Group for Monitoring of Implementation of Non-Visa Regime for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina travelling to the European Union, from November 12, 2012 Brussels meeting between Western Balkan officials and the European Commission concerning the monitoring of non-visa regime.
The Ministers supported a practice of monthly reporting to the European Commission on concrete measures undertaken and statistics on their results in view of operative cooperation between competent authorities from Western Balkans and EU members and European agencies, exchange of information between them, border control improvement measures and comprehensive border security measures, including regional operative border cooperation , advancement in domestic investigations into illegal migrations organisers, new projects and programmes targeting minority population socio-economic integrations, and launching a new awareness rising campaign on rights and obligations relating to non-visa regime.
The aim of these measures is to decrease the number of false asylum seekers and maintain the non-visa regime for citizens of Western Balkans.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a conclusion to withdraw from the parliamentarian procedure a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Financing of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, defined at its 12th session of July 4, 2012, against the back ground that a new piece of legislation on amendments and supplements, as agreed with the IMF, to the Law on Financing of BIH Institutions will govern the same matter.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on adoption of 2012-2015 Strategy to Combat Violence against Children.
The strategic aim is a set-up a multidisciplinary and sustainable system of reporting and registering of cases of violence against children, an adequate and sustainable support, funding and data collection system in order to improve prevention and protection of child victims of violence and to establish a secure environment where a right of every child to be protected against all forms of violence would be fulfilled.
According to available data, year 2010 saw total 5,087 cases of violence against children, half of which is a neglect and combined violence, while 21,3 per cent is psychical violence, and 19 per cent is economic neglect. Physical violence is reported in 11 per cent of cases out of total number of violence against children cases.
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on setting annual quota fo work permits for foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2013.
Total annual quota for extension and new employment of foreigners in BIH for 2013 is 2,122 work permits, for the Federation of BIH 917 work permits, 900 for Republika Srpska, and 305 for Brčko District.
The annual quota for extension of the existing work permits is 1,422 work permits, while the annual quota for new foreigner employment in BIH is 700 work permits.
The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to prepare and provide to it amendments and supplements of relevant regulations for the purpose of introduction of blue diesel in both Entities. Previously, the Council of Ministers of BIH considered information of the Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) Steering Board on the implementation of the Council of Ministers of BIH conclusion from its 20th session, concerning an initiative on blue diesel, in addition to related annex information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.
Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH accepted an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations for starting a procedure for adoption of regulations in connection to a change of calculation of beer excise duty.
Experts form the ITA Steering Board, appointed by the Council of Ministers of BIH, are obliged to implement Council of Ministers’ positions. The Steering Board is in charge of preparation of information on status of expert members of the ITA Steering Board.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Partial Agreement on Mobility of Youth though Youth Card, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide it to the Presidency of BIH together with a proposal to designate Minister of Foreign Affairs of BIH dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija to send a Note Verbale to the Council of Europe on BIH’s accession to the Agreement.
BIH membership in this Partial Agreement will enable furthering of youth mobility along with their access to different activities aimed at their development promotion.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Protocol on Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on Maintenance of the Mehmed-Paša Sokolović’s Bridge in Višegrad, which the Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide to the Presidency of BIH, with a proposal for designation of Ministry’s Secretary Zlatko Horvat as the BIH signatory.
For the purpose of maintenance of universal value of het Bridge, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia will exchange information on activities affecting waters regime, which might pose a risk to the stability of the Bridge.
A joint work group, to be formed under the Protocol, will follow-up the reports on activities to affect the Bridge stability, including the operations of Hydro Power Plants in Bajina Bašta and Višegrad and will propose adequate measures to competent authorities.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of a Protocol on Data Exchange Modalities between the State Regulatory Agency for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of Bosnia and Herzegovina and State Institute for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of the Republic of Croatia. The Proposal Basics will be provided to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and manager of State Regulatory Agency for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of BIH Emir Dizdarević is proposed as the BIH signatory.
The basic aim of the Protocol is to set-up bilateral cooperation in the area of radiological safety in view of data exchange in case of finding out unreported cross-border traffic of nuclear and other radioactive material.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Finance Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission in Connection to IPA 2012 Multi-Beneficiary TEMPUS Programme. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency of BIH, with a proposition of Head of the Directorate of European Integrations Nevenka Savić as the BIH signatory.
The Agreements aim at further adjustment of high education institutions’ activities to European standards, improved university administration and enhanced regional cooperation between universities.
The European Commission will, according to the Agreement, participate in funding through EUR 2.4 million worth grant for a part of the Programme pertaining to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while BIH grant beneficiaries in BIH will, on the other side, ensure total EUR 266,666.00.
The Council of Ministers of BIH 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 Republic of Slovenia on economic cooperation on third markets, to be provided to the Presidency of BIH by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, along with a proposal of Minister Mirko Šarović as the BIH signatory.
The Memorandum provides for joint activities of the two states for the needs of identification of both possible areas of cooperation for participation at third countries’ markets and economic sectors and/or specific projects of mutual interest allowing joining of individual capacities, based on the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Slovenia.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of an Air Traffic Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Australia. The Initiator, Ministry of Communications and Transport, will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency od BIH for further procedure, and Minister of Communications and Transport Damir Hadžić is proposed as the BIH signatory.
The establishment of regular air traffic between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Australia is of mutual interest of both countries and their air liners, and this Agreement regulates the traffic between the two countries.
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for signing of the Pledge for child Survival – Renewed Pledge – and designated Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sredoje Nović to sign the pledge on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The pledge has been signed thus far by 80 states around the world. By the act of signing, countries pledge to decrease the child mortality (preventive interventions, immunisation, and disease treatment).
Governments of Ethiopia, India, United States of America, together with UNICEF, organised a conference titled “Child Survival Call for Action”, in New York, in June 2012.
The Council of Ministers of BIH postponed decision making on proposal regulation on Conditions of Procurement and Use of Official Vehicles in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so as to leave enough time for receiving written suggestions and remarks in order to achieve the best solution to the issue, which should enable significant savings of budget funds.
The Council of Ministers of BIH assessed as justified the participation of 26 strong Military Police Unit of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the International Security Mission (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was tasked to provide to the Presidency of BIH an assessment of justifiability of participation of Military Police Unit of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the International Security Mission in Afghanistan, as well as a proposal decision on participation of the Military Police Unit in ISAF mission.
The Military Police Unit is planned to be sent to ISAF Mission in the area of the city of Kandahar (Nathan Smith Camp) in January 2013.
(end)