Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 80th Session

BIH TAKES ASIDE EUR 1.2 MIL. FOR BIH-MONTENEGRO CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on Financing Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Activities between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro 2015-2017 for year 2016, between the European Commission, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Government of Montenegro, with Basics for its conclusion.

The total estimated costs of the grant programme are EUR 1,411,765, with the EU contribution of EUR 1,200,000 and the remaining part of 211,765 will be covered by the grant beneficiaries.

The aim of the Programme is the sustainable development of the bordering areas between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro through joint activities in 65 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 munici0palities in Montenegro in the areas of employment, environmental improvements, energy efficacy and cooperation in tourism.

The grant beneficiaries are the lower levels of authorities, including local governments and their institutions, organisations supporting local entrepreneurship, economic entities, tourist and cultural associations and NGOs.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Director of the Directorate for European Integrations was proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

CLEARING DEBT OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION TOWARDS BIH IS USD 125,157,834.38

 

The Council of Ministers fob IH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Russian federation on regulation of obligations of ex-SSSR under accounts related to trade in goods between the ex-SSSR and ex-SFRY, with a Report on negotiations.

According to eth agreement, the clearing debt of the Russian Federation towards Bosnia d Herzegovina is USD 125,157,834.38. Out of that sum, the Federation of BIH will get USD 72,591,543.94 or 58 per cent, Republika Srpska will get USD 36,295,771.97 or 29 per cent, BIH Institutions will get USD 12,515,783.33 or 10 per cent, and Brčko District of BIH will get USD 3,745,735.03 or three per cent.

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

 

AROUND KM 21.3 MIL. FOR MODERNISATION OF BIH ARMED FORCES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Defence, to approve financial resource and implementation dynamics of the realisation of multi-year project “Securing and Improvement of Operation of Motor Vehicles of the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Armed Forces” in the total amount of KM 21,211,000.00 during the implementation period 2016-2018.

The funds for this multi-year project will be secured from the 2016 Budget of the BIH Ministry of Defence in amount of KM 5,700,000.00, from sales of motor vehicles in year 2016 providing KM 148, 000.00 and from 2017/23018 Budget funds in amount of KM 15,363,000.00.

The funds will be used for procurement of specialised vehicles for the BIH Armed Forces in 2016-2018, aiming modernisation and reaching a required level of mobility and operative capability for carrying out legally prescribed missions of the BIH Armed Forces.

ECONOMIC GROWH IN BIH IN NEXT THREE YEARS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Directorate for Economic Planning on prospects for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2017-2019, suggesting the economic growth in BIH of at least 3.4 per cent in 2017.

Simultaneous strengthening of export and better business climate, as the result of the initial reform processes effects, coupled with a positive message to investors about the IMF Arrangement in place, should boost the growth of private investments to a real rate of 7.9 per cent.

Positive effects in 2017 are expected to contribute to strengthening of economic activity growth in 2018 to a real rate of 3.8 per cent, while in 2019, expected is a 4 per cent economic growth. A growth trend in the external surrounding should encourage higher export and investment rates in BIH.

 

GROWTH OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION AND EMPLOYMENT AND DECREASE OF TRADE DEFICIT

 

The Council of ministers of BIH took note Information of the Directorate of Economic Planning on macroeconomic trends for January-August 2016, which indicates a growth of industrial production of 3.8 per cent, relative to the same period of the last year.

The number of employees in June 2016 was 728.72 k or 1.7 per cent more than in June 2015, while the number of unemployed in august 2016 was reduced for 3.8 per cent and was 520.6 k. The major contribution to the increased employment rates has been made by the processing industry, trade, and mending motor vehicles.

In August 2016, the collected net revenues from the indirect taxes grew for 11.5 per cent, compared with the same period last year. Also, the taxation administrations in BIH collected total KM 523 million from direct taxes, contributions and other revenues, which is 9.6 per cent more than the year ago.

The total deposits were KM 17.2 billion as at August 2016, with a growth rate of 7.9 per cent annually, and the major part of these accounts for deposits held by citizens, which grew for 6.4 per cent annually.

Foreign trade exchange continued increasing during August, which came as a result of the registered 5.2 growth of goods export. The foreign trade deficit of Bosnia and Herzegovina in January-August 2016 was more than KM 4.5 billion, as decreased for 3.3 per cent, compared to the last year.

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH GIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CULTURAL AND SPORTS PROJECTS IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers took a decision to distribute funds from a grant for co-financing of projects by cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2016 in amount of about KM 200.000-00 from the Budget of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a part of total KM 1.5 million from the grant.

This way, 12 cultural institutions in BIH will get funds for their projects.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers took a decision on distribution of the remaining resources from the current grant “Co-financing of Sports Events” for year 2016.

Under the decisions the remaining funds for co-financing of sports projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2016 in amount of KM 360,000.00 are to be distributed to 36 entities in BIH, including sports federations and clubs, as well as for specific sports projects.

These funds are a part of total remaining resources in the amount of KM 537,000 from the current grant “”Co-Financing of Sports Events for 2016.

The grant beneficiaries are obliged to present their project and financial reports to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in a 30 day-time from the finalisation of their respective projects, at latest.

 

SUPPORT TO PROJECTS COMBATING FAMILY VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, to support financially the development of a partnership between NGOs and institutions responsible for the implementation of the Convention on prevention and fight against family violence and violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016.

An amount of KM 50,000-00 from the Budget of the ministry fir Human Rights and Refugees will be used for the implementation of six NGO-developed projects of fight against family violence and violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The funds beneficiaries are obliged to present their reports on purposeful use of funds by January 21, 2017, at latest.

 

BIH INSTITUTIONS ACCOMMODATION SOLVING SAVES ABOUT KM 400K ANNUALLY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the BIH Institutions General Affairs Service, on distribution of office space for accommodation of BIH Institutions at 5 Đoke Mazalića St. in Sarajevo, of total surface of 2,364.64 m².

The office space was planned for the accommodation of the Directorate for European Integrations f BIH, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH, BIH Insurance Agency and BIH Agency for Postal Traffic.

Also on a proposal of the BIH Institutions General Affairs Service, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to amend a Decision on Distribution of Office Space in a building for accommodation of BIH Institutions at 9A Maršala Tita St. in Sarajevo, thus solving the accommodation of the BIH Veterinary Office.

These decisions will help make saving of about KM 400,000-00 a year, equivalent to the current rental costs for accommodation of these institutions.

 

DEFINED PROPOSAL AMENDMENT OF LAW ON BIH ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY

 

The Council of Ministers of BI defined and will provide to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly a Proposal Amendment to a Proposal Law on amendments and supplements to the Law on of Bosnia and Herzegovina Road Traffic Safety Basics.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport, by proposing the Amendments realised a conclusion of the Constitutional-Legislation Committee of the Parliamentarian Assembly House of Peoples, and engaged into additional consultations for the sake of improving the text Proposal Law on Bosnia and Herzegovina Road Traffic Safety Basics.

The Proposal Amendment consists of 14 amendments, aiming a technical refinement of the text Proposal Law on Bosnia and Herzegovina Road Safety Basics, which, among other things, tightens sanction policy and improves traffic safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The proposed Amendment will be considered together with a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on BIH Road Traffic Safety Basics, adopted in the first reading in the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly House of Peoples.

 

ACTIVITY PLAN FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL BIH PARTICIPATION IN “HORIZON 2020” PROGRAMME

 

The Council of Ministers adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Commission Framework Programme for Research and Development – “Horizon 2020” (H2020), accompanied by a Plan of Activities for increasing successfulness of BIH participation in the Programme.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, by the mid-2016, BIH has had 166 credible applications with 196 applicants, and 16 projects were approved, which include 19 institutions. The total amount withdrawn to date is EUR 1.6 million.

In order to increase the successfulness rate of the BIH participation in this Programme over the coming period, the Ministry of Civil Affairs proposed nine activities, among which, a support to domestic entities in finding joint projects partners outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, intensification of promotion events in cooperation with the European commission and other competent institutions, regular web-site and data base up-dating, continued monitoring and analysis of the BIH Institutions participation at the “Horizon 20020”, and promotion of successful institutions from BIH in the Programme.

 

CoM TAKES REGULATION ON IDENTIFICIATION AND RECOD KEEPING OF DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations- proposed Regulation on identification and record keeping on dogs, cats and ferrets in Bosnia and Herzegovina, prepared by the Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Regulation, harmonised with a relevant EU Directive from 2013, enables an effective animal health control on rabies, echinococcosis and other contaminable diseases of dogs, cats and ferrets, by way of a permanent animal identification and linking to their owners.

The Regulation prescribes the way of identification and record keeping on dogs, cats ad ferrets, identification procedures, identification tools, documents looks and data base contents and structure in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

REALISED 66% OF GOALS UNDER RAP AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM STRATEGY IN FIRST HALF OF YEAR

 

The Council of Ministers if BUH, adopted a Semi-Annual Progress Report (BIH Public Administration Reform Revised Action Plan 1 implementation monitoring) for January-June 2016, indicating that 66 per cent of reform goals were implemented, which is for 1 per cent more than at the end of 2015.

The major percentage of the goals realisation under the Revised Action Plan 1 was made in the Republika Spska administration (75 per cent), while the least percentage was recorded in the Brčko District of BIH, where 61 per cent of goals were implemented.

Viewed in the context of the Revised Action Plan 1 reform areas, the most of the goals were realised in the area of institutional communications - 78 per cent - and the most active in this exercise was the State level of authorities.

The smallest percentage of realisation was made in the area of e-administration, only 49 per cent.

The major semi-annual progress in goals realisation was made in the area of the Strategic planning, coordination and policy development, in which a three per cent progress was recorded in the first half of 2016.

 

TO IMPLEMENT PROTOCOL FOR SMOOTH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EXPORT TO RUSSIAN FEDERATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on activities taken by responsible institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the removal of barriers imposed based on a temporary ban on fruits and vegetables export to the Russian Federation market, and on measures undertaken for insuring smooth continuation of the trade.

The Council of Ministers of BIH required the institutions responsible for phytosanitary protection in BIH to secure, within their competencies, the implementation of the Protocol on  Phytosanitary Requirements between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH and Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of the Russian Federation, including the removal of deficiencies indicated in a report of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of in the Russian Federation.

BIH producers of fruits and vegetables were re-enabled export to the Russian Federation market, on October 20, 2016, after BIH and the Russian Federation agreed new trade rules.

 

CoM REALISED 146 CONCLUSINOS MORE THAN IN SAME PERIOD 2015

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH realised 85 per cent of conclusions taken in the first six months of 2016, specifically Ministries and Agencies realised 380 out of total 440 conclusions adopted, suggests a January 1- June 30 Review of Conclusions Implementation, drafted by the Council of Ministers Secretariat-General.

Practically, 146 conclusions more were realised then in the same period of time last year, when 234 conclusions were realised.

Ministries and other institutions not fully implementing the Council of Ministers conclusions were tasked to implement them fully without further delay, and to accelerate their activities for realisation of the conclusions, requiring a longer time or cooperation with other institutions.

For the sake of the improved efficacy of the Council of Ministers, the conclusions implementation should be prioritised.

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