Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 7th Session

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH defined and will forward to the parliamentarian procedure a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Movement and Stay of Foreigners and Asylum with “E” mark, as a confirmation of conformity with the relevant European legislation. 

The Proposal Law amends, supplement and define more precisely certain legal provisions which, among other things, regulate obligations of transport companies, reasons for rejection of entry in BIH to foreigners, types of visas, issuance of invitation letter, expulsion of foreigners, and certain issues concerning international protection and rights to appeal for areas in which this right has not been regulated to date.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of BIH considered a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Supplements to the Law on Service in the Armed Forces of BIH, and discussion was postponed for the next session.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Supplement to Decision on Temporary Financing of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for April –June 2012.

Under this Decision, the Ministry of Defence approved funds for fulfilment of obligations concerning the organisation and implementation of an international civil/military exercise titled “Joint Resistance 2012”, to be held in BIH on May 28 – June 8, 2012.

The Council of Ministers of BIH received Information on Strike in Police Agencies of BIH, prepared by the Ministry of Security, as assigned at the 6^th session of the Council of Ministers. After consideration of Information, it was concluded to call for an urgent session of the Executive-Intelligence Committee to consider the political-security situation in BIH.

Other than the Committee members (Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH), the session will be attended by Minister of Security and heads of Police and Security Agencies.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an analysis of Foreign Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2011.

In 2011, KM 15.5 billion worth merchandise was imported to BIH, which is 14.02 % increase in relation to 2010, reads the analysis, and concluded that overall export amounted up to KM 8.22 billion, which is an increase for 15.88 %. The trade deficit amounted to KM 7.30 billion, 12 % more than in 20110. The coverage of import by export in 2011 was 52.9 %, 0.85% more than in the year before.

View by country groups, the European Union is still our major foreign trade partner, so that in overall foreign trade exchange it participates with 48.98 %; followed by CEFTA-2006   signatories with participation of 28.45%, while 22.57 % of foreign trade accounts for trade with other countries.

Out of major foreign trade partners, BIH’s major coverage of import by export is in trade with Austria 125.0%, Slovenia 85.31%, Germany 73.07%, Italy 69.74%, Serbia 69.36%, and with Croatia 54.61%.

The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted an Initiative off the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and designated a negotiating team for conclusion of a Loan Agreement (Bihać University Modernisation Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and the Raiffaisen Bank International AG.

It si a EUR 5 million worth project, out of which EUR 4.250.000 are loan funds, and EUR 750.000 grant funds. The funds will be used for the purchase of equipment and professional services for the Project. The loan term is 10.5 years, with 12 month grace period.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Amendments and Supplements of Decision on Adoption of Strategy of Transfer from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in frequency bands of 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz in Bosnia and Herzegovina, under which Dec. 1, 2014 is defined as the new deadline for a full quench of analogue UFH band signal in BIH.

Also, Ministers adopted Information of the Ministry of Communications and Transport on Implementation of the Strategy for Transfer from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting in 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz frequency bands in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and drafting of a Digitalisation Action Plan is in the process.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked to provide this Information to the House of Peoples of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

Upon a proposal of the directorate for European Integrations, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a document titled Quantitative Assessment of Implications of the Republic of Croatia’s Accession to the EU for Bosnia and Herzegovina, aimed at quantifying losses and gains caused by Croatia’s joining the EU, with a review of secured and missing funds for action taking in certain domains.

The quantitative assessment refers to the areas of cross-border activities, state border inspection, trade relations, traffic, education, citizenship and travel documents, labour, employment, social welfare and pensions, electric power arrangement and regional cooperation and pre-accession funds.

This document was prepared in cooperation with competent institutions at the State, Entity and Brčko District levels.

Ministers have previously adopted Information for the first quarter of 2012 on the implementation status of activities defined under the Action Plan for Overcoming effects of the Republic Croatia’s Accession to the EU, which the Directorate for European Integrations will be providing quarterly to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency on 2011 Aftercare Activities with recommendations for investment conditions improvement in BIH, and tasked the FIPA to inform the Entity and Brčko District Governments of the Report.

Based on the analysis of objections from foreign investors collected under the FIPA Aftercare Programme, WB Doing Business Report for 2012 and Foreign Investor Council White Book, a general conclusion may be drawn that political stability and legally regulated foreign investment environment need to be secured in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially through a high quality legislation, harmonised with the EU single regulations, at all level of authority, in view at the creation of a single economic space, as it stands as one of the basic EU requirements in the stabilisation and accession process of BIH.

The FIPA gave its recommendations in respect to legal and institutional framework for e-signature, taxation policy, construction permits, registration of companies and work and stay permits.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Migration Profile of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2011, by which Bosnia and Herzegovina met its regular obligation in the visa regime liberalisation process as to Migration Profile up-dating.

The BIH Migration profile for 2011 ensures an insight to the Council of Ministers of BIH into key migration trends, with an emphasis on visas, rejection of entry or illegal border crossing, temporary and permanent stay of foreigners, illegal migrations and measures towards foreigners, irregular migrants return, asylum, work permits issued to foreigners, attaining of BIH citizenship, emigrations from BIH, in addition to relevant legal and institutional framework.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took three regulations on tobacco production, quality, processing and buy-off.

The Regulation on Quality Rating of Row Tobacco Leaf defines single standards and conditions production of row tobacco leaf production.

The Regulation on Tobacco Production Requirements provides for mandatory registration and record keeping of row tobacco producers. Also it provides for registration requirements for row tobacco producers, including production and processing managers.  

The Regulation on Tobacco Buy-off and Processing provides that tobacco processing activity can be performed by legal entities having the headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina and which meet the conditions defined under the Law on Tobacco and this Regulation.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH gave its consent to appointing Predrag Mičić as Military Attaché of the Republic of Serbia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, seated in Sarajevo.

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