Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 54th Session

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LEGILSATION HARMONISED WITH FATF RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law ion Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, in order to harmonise it with the existing standards and  Financial Action Task Force (FATF )recommendations.

The Proposal Law is assigned a “E” mark, as a confirmation of harmonisation level with the European Union relevant legislation.

With an extended definition of a terrorist organisation, these amendments and supplements, among other things, remove deficiencies in the area of money and money instruments cross-border transfer, and they define more clearly ways and means of data delivery to the FOO.

The Ministry of Security will provide the Proposal Law with incorporated suggestions from the Parliamentarian Assembly session for consideration under the urgent procedure.

 

CoM TO START MONEY LAUNDERING RISK ASSESSMENT DRAFTING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Security on a need to develop threats assessment form money laundering and financing of terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a better insight into a possibility for effective engagement of available financial, technical and human resources in fight against financial crime.

The threat assessment from money laundering and financing of terrorism in BIH, in accordance with the First FATF recommendation, represents an all-inclusive collection and analysis process of all relevant data, in order to assess the level of exposure of individual sectors to money laundering and financing of terrorism.

The Ministry of  Security will obtain necessary endorsement by the Entity Governments  and Brčko District of BIH for tis development, and the Council of Ministers of BIH will propose members of a Work Group for development of risk assessment of money laundering and financing of terrorism in BIH. This effort will be accompanied by a request for the World Bank assistance.

 

USD 10 MIL. SAUDI GRANT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH CENTRE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding for Saudi Grant for Construction of Research Institute “King Salman bin Abdulaziz” at the Sarajevo School for Science and technology (SSST) between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The USD 10 million (SAR 38,000.00) worth grant, allocated to the Federation of BIH was intended for construction of research centre and student accommodation centre within the SSST.

This would enable employment of about one hundred new experts for the areas for which the SSST was registered, while the student accommodation centre would solve the problem of accommodation of students from the diaspora and from other parts of BIH.

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 for the BIH signatory.

 

GRANT FOR WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS RECONSTRUCTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined proposal Basics for conclusion of the First Addendum Finance and Project Agreement  relating to the Finance and Project Agreement of October 31, 2014 between KfW, Frankfurt am Main, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Borrower), the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation), and Municipality of Tuzla (Project Implementation Agency) for the “Water Supply and Waste Waters Treatment Programme in BIH II”.

Under the Addendum Agreement, the Government of the Swiss Confederation extends a grant to BIH, via the KfW, worth EUR 2,375,000.00, as additional funds for reconstruction of damaged infrastructure of sewage and water supply systems, aimed at flood protection and decrease of natural disaster risks.

The proposal basics will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

FLOOD RISK DECERASE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of the First Amendment to an Agreement between the Government of the Swiss Confederation and Council of Ministers of BIH on financial assistance for the “Water Supply and Waste Waters Treatment Programme in BIH II” (Rehabilitation and Up-Grading of Water Supply and Waste Waters Treatment Systems in the Municipalities of Tuzla and Zenica).

The Government of the Swiss Confederation will participate by EUR 2,500,000.00 grant funds in funding the flood recovery and natural disaster prevention measures, primarily rehabilitation of landslide sites.

The Proposal Basics will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

TOTAL 30 MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDED INTO WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE PROJECT IN RS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defiend and will provide to the BIH Presidency Proposal Basics for conclusion of an Amendment No.1 to the Finance Contract between Bosnia dn Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and the European Investment Bank for “Water Supply and Sewage Project in RS”, concluded on September 22, 20110 in Luxembourg/Sarajevo.

Under the Amendment, the termanl date for use of Contracted financial resources in amout of EUR 50 million, will be prolonged for two years, i.e. by June 30, 2018.

The Ministry of Finance of Rrepublika Srpska sought the deadline extension, justifying it by inclusion of additional six municipalities, in addition to the original 24 municipalities in the project.

 

EUR 6.5 MILLION GRANT FOR SEWAGE PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION IN BIJELJINA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed Proposal Arrangement on grant aid under ORIO Programme for both implementation and maintenance phases of construction of sewage pipeline and waste water treatment facility in the town of Bijeljina, worth EUR 6.5 million, allocated to Republika Srpska. The projecting and construction of sewage pipeline and waste waters treatment facility in the town of Bijeljina was agreed between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH PROTECTION IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, on limitation of import of passenger vehicles, cargo vehicles and outer pneumatic tyres for the reason of environmental protection and protection of human health in BIH.

Practically, the decision si a follow-up of a decision on lowest technical requirements for newly-produced and used cars in the processes of homologation of car type and homologation of individual cars in 2016, which would enable a full introduction of “EURO-4” standards in BIH.

 

SAFETY IMPROVEMENT FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH authorised the State Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety to take all needed measures and establish a temporary central warehouse of radioactive waste in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would be realised with the EUFOR assistance and under the supervision and control of the State Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety.

This would reduce a number fo temporary warehouses at different locations in BIH. Nad will ensure a safe transport of waste to a single site under control of the State Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety, with EUFOR expert assistance, which will improve safety in BIH in this area.

It is about storing radioactive lighting rods, hazardous production residuals from closedown companies and military waste.

 

EMPLOYMENT IN BIH PRESIDENCY WITHIN EARLIER APPROVED BUDGET

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve additional employment in the BIH Presidency, because of increased volume of assignments.

It is about employing six civil servants with different sectors of the BIH Presidency Secretariat. Funds for the additional hiring will be secured by the BIH Presidency by wqy of amending the expenditures structure of earlier approved budget,, so that it will require no new budget replenishments.

 

CoMBIH IMPLEMNETED 91 % OF ITS CONCLUSIONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH realised 91 % of its conclusions, taken in year 205, more precisely, Ministries and competent Agencies realised 682 of total taken 746 conclusions, while remained were 64 non-realised conclusions, indicates the breakdown of conclusions realisation prepared by the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

Those Ministries and other agencies failing to fully realise the CoM conclusions are tasked to implement them fully without further delay and to accelerate their realisation in case it requires longer period fop time or cross-institutional cooperation .

 

COORDIANTION OF ACTIVITIES FOR PARTICIPATION OF BIH AT WESTERN BALKANS SUMMIT IN PARIS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH emphasised a need or permanent and regular communication for preparations and realisation of obligations of BIH in relation to the up-coming Western Balkans Summit in Paris, ot be held on July 4, 2016.

The Director of the Directorate for European Integrations of BIH will be the coordinator of the related activities, in cooperation with all Ministries nod bodies of the Council of Ministers of BIH within their competences, of which the Council of Ministers will be regularly reported.

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