Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 42nd Session

PROLONGED RTV FEE COLLECTION SYSTEM 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Public RTV Broadcast System, under which the deadline of the existing TV fee collection is extended to June 30, 2016.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked to prepare as soon as possible  anew law to enable sustainable functioning of the public RTV broadcast systems.

FOOD AND WTER CONTROL TO CONTINUE FOR SAKE OF HAMN HEALTH

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Food Safety Agency of BIH on the implemented plan of food health safety monitoring for year 2015 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a view at getting an insight into the health appropriateness of drinking water in the public water supply system, with a special attention to the flooded areas, including mineral and natural spring watersand salty waters, in addition to an analyse of pesticide residue levels infood of in herbal origin.

The water Safety Monitoring Plan  was implemented in 27 towns and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely in Banjaluka, Bijeljina, Bihać, Brčko, Brod, Doboj, Goražde, Zenica, Zavidovići, Zvornik, Kupres, Konjic, Livno, Maglaj, Mostar, Modriča, Nevesinje, Orašje, Priejdor, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Travnik, Tomislavgrad, Šamac, and ŠirokiBrijeg.

The Report was focused on analyse of the presence of metals, nitrates and nitrite mineral oils, tetrachoroethene and trichloreethene, with microbiological analyses.

Out of total 390 analysed drinking water samples from the public water supply system, which included 1,690 laboratory analyses, no samples were found to contain contaminants in values above prescribed maximum quantity allowed.

Agents of microbiological water inadequacy were not found either to 40 analysed samples of natural mineral and natural spring and stone waters, which were subject to 360 analyses.

None of analysed 100 samples of fruits and vegetables in six cities (Banjaluka, Brčko, Bijeljina, Sarajevo, Mostar, Trebinje) had detected pesticide residues above the prescribed MRL. Only three vegetables samples were detected contain pesticide remains levels above the prescribed MRL.

 

TRANSPORT STRATEGY TO BE PREPARED BY END THIS YEAR

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered information of the Directorate for European Integrations on IPA funds programming and required preparations for participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Paris Summit within the berlin Process, in addition to a submission of project candidacyunder the Connectivity Agenda.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport should form a Work Group for preparation of a Draft Transport Strategy by July 2016, in order to secure continued financial support through an open public call for co-financing investment projects under 2016 programme and through an open public call for infrastructure projects within the 15^th round of WBIF for technical assistance.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will continue its work to finalise proposal packages of strategic documents for environment issues through already set-up work groups, which worked on these for their adoption at different BIH authority levels, also having regard of the two open public calls for infrastructure projects.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will set-up a work group for preparation of Proposal Energy Strategy, and preparation of the text Strategy is expected to start as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide to the Council of Ministers for adoption a Proposal State Action Plan for renewable sources of energy to allow a direct submission of relevant BIH infrastructure projects application within the 15^th round of WBIF technical assistance.

 

CADETS ADMISSION TO POLICE AND JUNIOR INSPECTOR RANKS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Security, to define a plan for admission of cadets into police agencies at the BIH Institutions level in 2016.

The plan includes admission of cadets to ranks of policeman and junior inspector in the State Investigations and Protection Agency, BIH Border Police and Directorate for coordination of Police Bodies of BIH. According to the plan dynamics, education of policemen and junior inspectors will start in 016 and their employment is planned for end 016 and 1017.

Education and employment of over 250 cadets due to retirement of a number of police officers, migrant crisis and strengthening of operability of police forces in combating terrorism, money laundering, organised crime, drugs misuse ad human trafficking, would create conditions for realisation of the European Commission orders and recommendations in connection to the Stabilisation and Accession process, and also for realisation of activities defined under BIH strategies.

 

GRANTS TO NON-PRFIT ORGANISATIONS FOR LEGAL ASSSITANCE AND ACCOMMODATION OF FOREIGN HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIHtook a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, on grant funds allocation to non-profit organisation intended for accommodation and legal assistance to foreign human trafficking victims.

Under the decision, the “Medica” Civil Association based in Zenica will receive KM 9,230,.00; “EMMAUS” International Solidarity Fund will get KM 8,750.00; and “Our Genuine BIH” Non-Profit Organisation will get KM 4,500.00.

Funds beneficiaries are obliged to report funds spending to the Ministry of Security.

The funds allocation plan was developed based on a protocol on cooperation that the Ministry of Security signed with these non-profit organisations, and in accordance with reports submitted by these on the number of victims accommodated in the safe houses and number of legal assistance cases to foreigners – human trafficking victims in 2015.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to allocate KM 15,500.00 grant funds to “Our Genuine BIH” Non-Profit Organisation for legal assistance to persons accommodated in the Immigration Centre, in accordance with earlier signed protocol on cooperation.

Foreigners accommodated in the Immigration Centre have the right to free of charge legal assistance, guaranteed under international conventions and BIH Law, which represents a basic precondition for exercis8ng the right to just trial in accordance with the European Human Rights Convention.

 

PREPARATION OF ACTION PLAN  FOR REALISATION OF EC REPORT PRIORITIES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of information of the Directorate for European Integrations on development of an Action Plan for realisation of priorities defined in the European Commission Report on Bosniaand Herzegovina in 2015, which will be provided to the Council of Ministers, following consultations with competent institutions.

He relevant State, Entity, cantonal and Brčko District level institutions are included into the development of the Action Plan, which are supported to prepare and implement measures to facilitate reforms progress in the European integrations process. These activities will be connected, as possible, to measured under Reform Agenda action plans and BIH Economic Reforms Programme measures for 2016-2018.

 

BIH AND SERBIA TO IMPROVE ROAD TRANSPORT OF PASSENGERS AND GOODS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on international road transport of passengers and cargo, and adopted a report from on negotiations on the Agreement.

The Agreement would help improve road transport of passengers as public transport or transport for individual needs between the two countries, as well as in transit though their respective territories, which would contribute to intensifying development of trade and economic ties of BIH and Serbia.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide the Proposal Agreement and belonging negotiations report to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport was proposed for the BIH Signatory.

 

MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF CAR DRIVERS’ LICENCES OF BIH AND MOLDOVA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Moldova on mutual recognition and replacement of car drivers’ licences.

The mutual recognition and replacement of drivers’ licences issued by competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Moldova, respectively, is for holders of divers’ licences legally staying in the territory of other contracting party.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.

 

BIH ND TURKEY TO INTENSIFY COOPERATION IN MILITARY TRAINING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for initiating a procedure for negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in military training.

The Agreement would promote bilateral military cooperation and would intensify capability-building of members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

The competent authorities for the implementation of the Agreement will be the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and General Staff of the Republic of Turkey.

The Proposal Basic will be provided to the BIH Presidency, while the Minister of Defence was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

ANNUAL TRAINIGN PLAN OF ARMED FPRCES OF BIH SUPPLEMENTED BY ADDIITONAL EXERCISE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on supplementing the Annual Training and Exercise Plan of members and units of the Armed Forces o Bosnia and Herzegovina abroad in 2016, which the Ministry of Defence will provide to the Presidency and Parliamentarian Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Specifically, the Annual Training and Exercise Plan of members and Units of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be supplemented by a “Khaan Quest” exercise, to be held in Mongolia in time between May 22 to June, 2016, forhhte purpsioe of lifting capabilities of countries participating in peace missions, improvement of inter—operability among participating countries, and strengthening of international efficacy and harmonisation in peace keeping operations.

 

ADOPTED PRORAMME OF MARKIG SPECIAL DATES IN HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION AREA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a 2016 Programme of marking of relevant human rights protection area relevant dates in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as proposed by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.

Competent institutions of BIH and other bodies, in cooperation with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH will appropriately and in accordance with their capabilities and planned budget resources take part in realisation of the Programme of marking of special dates in the human rights protection area in 2016.

The programme consists of 49 human-rights related events with precisely defined activities and identified institutions as holders of the Programme implementation.

 

TO IMPLEMENT PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF ITA MANAGER

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of information on expiry of mandate to Manager of the Indirect Taxation Administration Miro Džakula as at February 23, 2016, and tasked the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH to launch a procedure for selection and appointment of a Manager of the Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH.

Teh ITTA Manager wuk be appointed by the COucnil fo Misntierss , in accordance tiht eh Law on Misnierial Apppoitetns, Appointdments in the Cocunil fo misniers and other appoinmntens in BIH, following completion fo a job vacancy proceure.

 

The Council of Ministers appointed Irena Širko for Acting Deputy Manager of the Agency for High Education Development and Quality Insurance in BIH. The Ministry of Civil Affairs is responsible to initial a job vacancy procedure.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH assigned Minister of Security Dragan Mektić to sign a grant of the People’s Republic of China to Bosnia and Herzegovina in scanning equipment for airports and customs terminals, in amount of EUR 4.5 million.

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