Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 50th Session

ADOPTED NEW MIGRATIONS AND ASYLUM STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, a Strategy on Migrations and Asylum and the belonging action plan for 2016-2020, aimed to strengthen capacities of competent institutions and further harmonisation of national migration and asylum-related legislation with the EU acquis.

Implementing eight strategic goals, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to promote the system of foreigners’ entry and stay in BIH, to strengthen capacities in the area of asylum, increase the state border control efficacy, improve combating illegal migrations, contribute to human trafficking decrease , foster institutional capacities, set-up a system for monitoring foreigners’ integration and a permanent coordination system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the implementation of these strategic goals 37 measures were defined together with 173 activities to be implemented by relevant BIH institutions  in precisely set deadline eventually by year 2020.

This strategic document came as a result of a joint coordinated effort taken by representatives of competent institutions in BIH dealing with the area of migrations and asylum.

 

TO STRENGTHEN HIGH EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs ton endorsement of High Education Development Priorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2016-2026.

The document represents the most comprehensive break down of activities the competent bodies in BIH are to implement in order to strengthen development of high education in Bosnia and Herzegovina and allow for tis full inclusion into European high education system.

The priorities are classified in seven key areas, namely: good governance and management,; resources, connection with labour market; standard and qualification; student experience; internationalisation; and statistics.

Priorities for high education development in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the result of joint work of BIH and international recognised experts form the Council of Europe, as a follow-up of a comprehensive analysis of the state of affairs in high education sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Project Steering Board and Conference of Education Ministers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, comprised of 14 Education Ministers, considered the document, providing for the support of all relevant education authorities in BIH for its implementation.

 

BIH ACCEEDS TO PRARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for accession of BIH to a Paris Agreement and granted tis consent to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to forward the Paris Agreement related to the Framework Convention of United Nations on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to further procedure, while the chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH was proposed as he BIH signatory.

The Paris Agreement will be signed on April 22, 2016 at the UN General Assembly in New York on the Day of Planet Earth.

Accession to the Paris Agreement is important for BIH and its further cooperation and accession to the European Union, this creates conditions for use of international funds facilities in this area.

 

CoMBIH ADOPTS RENEWABLE ENERGY USE ACTION PLAN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Action Plan for the Use of Renewable Energy (NREAP), proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, thereby BIH fulfilled its commitments under the Energy Community Contract along with an obligation to apply EU directives on renewable energy.

The Action plan for use of renewable energy for BIH defines indicative gaols of use of renewable sources of energy in our country by 2020 and dynamics their achievement.

 

ACTION PLAN FOR INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Ministry of Security-proposed Action plan for implementation of the Integrated Border Management Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2016, which details activities prescribed by a Framework Action Plan supposed to be implemented by the end of this year.

It is a package of measures to be implemented by the BIH competent bodies within defined deadlines and as per their work programmes in respect to border control and customs surveillance, detection of cross-border crime, in coordination with all law enforcement agencies, as well as within inter-agency cooperation in the integrated border management.

Activities will be also directed to implementation of a four-layer model of border control, which included intensified international and neighbour cooperation, in addition to the promotion of inter-agency cooperation, control of foreigners’ movement and stay and implementation of readmission-related measures.

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON COMMITMENTS UNDER EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS PROCESS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on progress in fulfilment of requirements on BIH road to the EU, which indicates that 70 measures will be implemented at the state level by the end of 2016, in accordance with eth Action Plan for Priorities realisation in the process of fulfilment of related requirements to Bosnia and Herzegovina

The reform measures in the competence of the council of Ministers of BIH will be implemented in the areas of public administration, human rights, minority protection and freedom of expression, functional market economy and ability of encountering competition pressures and market forces within the European Union, domestic market, sector policies, in addition to justice, freedom and security.

Reporting the realisation of the Action Plan measured will be due in May and September on the occasion of drafting of contributions and supplements to contributions of BIH institutions for 2016 Bosnia and Herzegovina Progress Report.

The directorate for European Integrations will provide the Information to the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

 

AGREEMENT ON EXCHANGE AND PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED DATA BETWEEN BIH AND AUSTRIA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Federal Government of Austria on exchange and mutual protection of classified data. This way, the two states will secure the protection of classified data being exchanged or produced in the process of cooperation of the Council of Ministers of BIH and the Government of the Republic of Austria in accordance with their respective legislations, with precise respective rules and procedures.. These data are classified as very secret, confidential and internal.

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

 

IMPROVED BILATERAL MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN BIH AND TURKEY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in military training, which will promote the bilateral military cooperation and intensify capability development of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The agreement, among other things, relates to training of officers, sub-officers, soldiers and cadets, who will attend the military trainings in the two states military institutions.

The institutions responsible for the implementation of the Agreement are the Ministry of Defence f BIH and General Staff of the Republic of Turkey.

The Proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency and the Minister of Defence was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

DRINA RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT REGIONAL PROJECT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of an Agreement on Grant from the Trust Fund for Global Ecology Capacities and Special Fund for Climate Change for the Management of the Drina river Basin on the Wester Balkans between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as the implementing agency for global ecology capacities and for Special Fund for Climate Change.

The aim of this regional project having Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro as stakeholders is to plan and manage the cross-border basin of the River Drina, with strengthening of their climate change adjustment capacities. The grant value for Bosnia and Herzegovina is USD 3,375,260.00.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

FINANCING AGREEMEBNT FOR FLOOD RECOVERY SPECIAL MEASURES PROGRAMME RATIFIED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Decision on ratification of an Agreement on Financing of Flood Recovery Special Measures Programme and Flood Risk Management – a part pertaining to Bosnia and Herzegovina – between Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers Directorate for European Integrations and the European Union, represented by the European Commission.

The Agreement is worth EUR 51 million, under which five projects worth EUR 41 million will be implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including a poject to be implemented within a milti-country Programme “regional reconstruction and Infrastructure Improvement for Protection from Floods in the river Sava Basin”, worth EUR 10 million.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further ratification procedure.

 

BIH PROTECTION AND RESCUE COORIDNATION BODY SET-UP

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security  to form a Coordination Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina for protection and rescue, in which appointed were representatives of the state-level Ministries of Security, Defence , Foreign Affairs, Communications and Transport, Finance and Treasury, Civil Affairs, Foreign Trade and Economic Relations  and  Human rights and refugee, in addition to relevant Entity Ministries and Directorates of Civil Protection and representatives of the Brčko District of BIH. Chairman of the Coordination Body will be Deputy Minister of Security Mijo Krešić.

Support to the Coordination Body in certain situations of protection and rescue will be provided by representatives of other competent institutions in BIH and resident international organisations having their seats in BIH.

The Coordination Body of BIH is an expert operative body fo the council of Ministers of BIH, responsible to coordinate measures of prevention and alert, including implementation of protection and rescue  measures  in case of natural or man-made disaster in BIH, as well as receipt and provision of international aid.

 

INFORMATION ON APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS ON PHONES, VEHICLES, ENTERTAINMENT AND LAW ARTICLE 39

 

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina took note of Information of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on application of a Rulebook on use of phones, Rulebook on use of entertainment costs and Rulebook on conditions and way of procurement of official cars in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a related request by the BIH Institutions for their amendments and supplements. The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted a notion on  a need for credible application of these rulebooks for all institutions covered by them.

The Council of Ministers of BIH was informed on the issue of application of Article 39 of the Law on Salaries and emoluments in the BIH Institutions and on requests by certain budget agencies for exemption form application of the part of the Law,

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH will provide the information to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

 

 

TO SOLVE ISSUE OF ACCOMODAITON OF BIH INSTITUTIONS AND REDUCE RENTAL COSTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the General Affairs Service of the Council of Ministers of BIH to provide a comprehensive report on moving of all institutions to facilities procured in 2014 in Mostar, East Sarajevo and Tuzla.

The Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH was tasked to provide comprehensive information on all institutions using on lease. The Council of Ministers of BIH is dedicated to solve systematically the issue of accommodation of BIH Institutions and reduce considerably the costs of lease, which reach about KM nine  million annually.

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