Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 83rd Session

INTEGRADED BORDER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND BELONGING ACTION PLAN ADOPTED 

An Integrated Border Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025-2029 and its Action Plan, proposed by the Ministry of Security, were adopted, thus harmonising integrated border management in our country with the EU acquis.

By adoption of the Strategy and belonging Action Plan, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues developing and harmonising its own concept with new European concept of integrated border management for the aim of effective border surveillance and strengthening  of cross-agency cooperation within BIH.

The new Strategy concept will contribute to strengthening partnership, stability and economic prosperity of BIH, and will improve cooperation with countries of the region, with better coordination and cooperation of all relevant services and agencies included in the border surveillance and control. Realization of strategic measures will ensure more functional and effective border management system in BIH, to result in increased overall security in Bosnia and Herzegovina and facilitated flow of people, goods and transportation means thorough border.

A Coordination Body will report the Council of Ministers of BIH on the Strategy and Action Plan implementation annually.

CHAIRWOMAN KRIŠTO BRIEFS CoMBIH ON PROBLEM-SOLVING OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS IN EU TERRITORY

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH Borjana Krišto briefed the Council of Ministers on a high level of agreement among participants on issue-solving to provisional drivers while in the EU territory and waiting on borders, reached at the Skoplje-held Growth Plan Regional Summit, featured by leaders of the region and high EU officials.

A functional solution will be based on real time of entry and exit of professional drivers, which will remove problems and ensure a stable running f international road traffic.

AGREEMENT RATIFICATION ON FINANCING ANNUAL EU ACTION PLAN FOR BIH

The session defined a proposal decision on ratification of a Financing Agreement of 2024 Annual Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, and o and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers Directorate for European Integration, signed in Brussels and Sarajevo in March and May 2025.

The European Union extends support to Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance, in numerous areas, including improvement of rule of law, equity, gender equality, economic development, and improvement in fulfilment of obligations for the EU accession.

REVISED ACTION PLAN FOR EXECUTION OF ECHR AWARDS

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Revised Action Plan for execution of the European Court for Human Rights awards in files Zornić vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sejdić & Finci vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pilav vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Pudarić vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, with corrections made at the session.

The Ministry of Justice should develop a proposal decision on forming a Work Group for development of a Draft Amendment to the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the aim of implementation of the ECHR awards.

The Work Gorup will be comprised of six members - three the Council of Ministers of BIH, two representatives of the Government of the Federation of BIH and one representative of the Government of Republika Srpska. The Ministry of Justice should extend all administrative and technical support to the Work Group to be formed and brief the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Office of Agent before the ECHR on the Work Gorup activities.

BIANNUAL ACTIVITY PLAN OF ANTI-MINE ACTION IN BIH AND 2025 DEMINING PLAN ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Civil Affairs-proposed Activity Plan of Anti-Mine Action in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025 and 2026, including 2025 BIH Demining Plan.

The Demining Committee of BIH and Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) will provide the Anti-Mine Activity Plan in BIH to a Committee in charge for implementation of obligations stemming from the Convention on Ban of Use, Storing, Production and Transfer of Land Mines and Destruction Thereof, through the Geneve Centre Implementation Unit.

The focus of anti-mine actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to the on threatened communities

The Demining Plan, adopted today, follows a Demining Priority List of the Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska.

The focus of anti-mine activities will be on threatened communities and their needs, with decreasing risk of related adverse social-economic effects.

Financial resources for implementation of the Anti-Mine Activity Plan will be secured form donor funds, BIH Institutions and Entity Budgets and from other sources, pursuant to the Demining Law on Bosnia and Herzugovina Article 18.

The Anti-Mine Action Revised Strategy real estimates, based on available anti-mine capacities and other circumstances affecting the anti-mien action process, suggest a possibility of demining 75 sq. km annually in 2025 and 2026.

Mine suspicious surfaces in BIH cover 1.6% territory, for which the Council of Ministers had earlier tasked the BHMAC and Demining Committee, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, to draft a comprehensive analysis of anti-mine action since signing of the Ottawa Convention to-date and to develop a detailed action plan for finalisation of the demining process to serve as a platform for planning a real final deadline for “Bosnia and Herzegovina without mines”.

CONTINUATION OF EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK OPERATIONS IN BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH confirmed that awarding the European Investment Bank loans to financial institutions falls within a Framework Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank, regulating the Bank activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Investment Bank awards loans to financial institutions of the Western Balkan countries for securing favourable lending of SMEs and subsequent increase of their competitiveness by application of green and innovative investments, amounting to EUR 170,000.000.

Taking the conclusion, the Council of Ministers of BIH confirmed that awarding the European Investment Bank loans to banks in BIH, as well, for mentioned projects is in accordance with the Framework Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank, which will secure its operations in BIH.

The conclusion is not related to borrowing or guarantee issuing of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

EU PRIORITY: CoMBIH SEEKS DRAFT NEW PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW

The session tasked the Procurement Agency of BIH to provide a Draft new Law on Public Procurement, by Dec. 31, 2025 - in line with the 2024-2028 Public Procurement Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina – to result from an intensified cooperation with the Public Procurement Agency Board, including with relevant experts, so that the best legal solution would be arrived at to allow a smooth Law adoption.

Previously, a piece of information from the BIH Public Procurement Agency was taken note of, which was requested by the Council of Ministers of BIH and Parliamentary Assembly House of Representatives.

The new Public Procurement Law should remove spotted inconsistencies, insufficiencies and vague provisions of the existing Public Procurement Law, and make it fully harmonised with relevant EU Directives.

DECREASED NUMBER OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security-tabled piece of information on migration situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Q I 2025, to be passed to the BIH Presidency and Joint Committee for Defence and Security of Parliamentary Assembly of BIH.

Over the reported period of time, a Law on Border Control was adopted, thus meeting one among the European Commission priority recommendations, in relation to migrations, asylum and guarantees   management. A Road Map was signed for cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU Asylum Agency 2025-2207.

In time between January 1 and March 31, 2025, a decreasing trend was continued of number of illegal migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and reported were 68% less migrants (2,085) relative to the same time in 2o2024 (6,544).

The BIH Border Police reported 675 individuals caught in illegal or attempted illegal crossing of border, which is 83% less relative to the Q I last year. Invidividuals detected in illegal border crossing were mostly citizens of Turkey (76), Afghanistan (74), Egypt (69), and Bangladesh (46).

During the reported period of time, police agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina filled 63% less reports to the BIH Prosecutor’s Office on committed crime acts referring to smuggling of persons than in the same time last year. Also, the number of filled asylum applications in Bosnia and Herzegovina was decreased for 58%.

Another activity was implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely, procurement of automatic reader of biometric data.

So, during March 2025, 25 apprentices who completed training for younger inspector of XII^th class of o Police cadets were admitted to work.

In the first three months of this year, foreigners in BIH were approved 3,704 temporary stays, with main background reasons being education, work with work permit, family reunion and work without work permit, which is an increase of approved temporary stays for 6%. Out of total number, 1,790 temporary stays were approved for the first time, while 1,914 were prolonged ones to foreigners mostly from Turkey, Serbia, India, Croatia, and China.

MONEYVAL EVALUATION REPORT ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers o BIH tasked the Ministry of Security to draw an activity plan, in cooperation with responsible institutions and bodies of BIH, for removal and inefficiencies identified in the MONEYVAL Fifth Evaluation Cycle Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Security should monitor implementation of the planned activities and report it periodically to the Council of Ministers.

These conclusions are an integral part of a piece of information by the Ministry of Security on the adopted repot for Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Fifth Cycle of MONEYVAL Evaluation.

The report reviews situation as to the system combating money laundering and financing terrorism in BIH, conclusive with February 2024, and provides appropriate recommendations

PIECE OF INFORMATION ON FINANCING PUBLIC INVESTMENTS PROGRAMME PROJECTS

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled piece of information on spending of funds in 2024 to finance projects included in 2024-2026 Public Investment Programme/Development-Investment Programme of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PJI/RIP IBIH).

The piece of information covers data on 156 projects, namely, 146 projects included into the 2024-2026 Public Investments Programme/Development-Investment Programme of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of total value of KM one billion and 246.9 million, among which there are 93 on-going projects, 44 completely finalised, 9 projects changed their status in 2024, while 10 projects were subsequently filled, i.e. there were not listed in 2024-2026 and were implemented in 2024.

Total KM 162.16 million was spent on 146 projects last year, of which 44.46%. relate to investments to socio-economic development and 55.54% to investments in administrative-technical capacities. Also, KM 49 million was spent to capital type projects, which is 30.32% of total spent funds in 2024.

For implementation of the subsequently filled 10 total KM 64.82 million worth projects,  KM 9.51 million was spent.

FDI INCREASE IN BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an analysis of foreign direct investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2023-2024, with comparative presentation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and countries of the region in international organisations’ reports, to be posted at the official web site of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.

According to the analysis, foreign direct investments in 2023 amounted to KM 1 billion and 895 million. as increased for 24.9%, with the highest annual amount since 2007.

The European Union countries invested KM 968 in 2023 or 51% of total amount. Individually viewed, the countries that invested the most were Russia (KM 376.3 million), Serbia (KM 355.6 million), Netherlands (KM 237.7 million), and investments higher than 100 million came from Germany (KM 204.9 mil.), Croatia (KM 187.2 mil.), Slovenia (KM 173.3 mil), and Great Britain (KM 149 mil.).

According to the Central Bank preliminary data, foreign direct investments with retained earnings in the first half of 2024 amounted to KM 955.9 million. Although preliminary data are susceptible to subsequent revision, foreign direct investments were less than in January-June 2023 for 14.3%, but viewing first halves of years 2016-2024, an increase was marked in the first half of last year of 35.4% relative to a nine-year average, amounting to KM 706 mil. for the first halves.

In the first half of 2024, countries with major registered capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina were Croatia (KM 183.5 mil.), Germany (KM 157.9 mil.) and Slovenia (144.3 mil.). The major capital increasements were noted with Austria (KM 101.7 mil.), Serbia (KM 81.5 mil.), Netherlands (KM 66.1 mil.) and Great Britain (KM 40.4 mil.).

The European Union counties (EU 27) invested KM 731.4 million to BIH in the first half of last year, representing 76.5% of total amount of all foreign direct investments.

FINANCING OF INTERNATIONAL LAW OFFICE FOR TRGOVSKA GORA

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on defining required financial resources for financing an international law office for the Trgovska Gora file.

Under the decision, approved were resources for 2025 for financing a Paris-based international law office Laborde Law for the Trgovska Gora file in amount of EUR 210,000.

The decision took force as at day of its adoption and will be published in the “Official Gazette of BIH” and will be applied as of the day of adoption of the Law on 2025 Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH.

CONSENT TO APPOINTMENT

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for appointment of Police Commissioner Oliver Berbach to the post of liaison officer of the Directorate General for Internal Security, with his seat in Belgrade. (end)

Link for Photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijeceministara/albums/72177720327294127