Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 88th Session
09/17/2025
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to reach consent, in the first round of vote, on a piece of information by the Directorate for Economic Planning on activities upon the Council of Ministers of BIH conclusion from its 56th extraordinary session of June 27, 2025 (piece of information on activities for reconciliation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Reform Agenda).
Following additional consultations to the end of reconciliation, the Council of Ministers of BIH will come out on the issue as soon as possible.
A successful conclusion of development of the Reform Agenda and submission thereof to the European Commission is a precondition for using of funds from the Instrument for Reforms and Growth and it represents a relevant step in continuation of the European integrations process and ensuring sustainable economic growth. The European Commission said in July 2025 that due to delay in development of the Reform Agenda the planned allocation of the Instrument for Reforms and Growth funds for BIH will be decreased for 10% and additional 10 % in case of additional delay after September 30, 2025.
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH URGES FOR ADOPTION OF 2025 BUDGET OF BIH INSTITUTIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of the Presidency of BIH conclusion from its 155th extraordinary session of September 10. 2025, relating to a Proposal Law on 2025 Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH, and concluded that further actions in legislative process as to the Budget adoption are not within the Council of Ministers of BIH responsibility.
The Council of Ministers of BIH reminds that it adopted the Draft Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International obligations of BIH for 2025 at its 77th session of April 22, 2025, in line with the procedure set forth by the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Law on Council of Ministers and Book of Rules of the Council of Ministers.
The Council of Ministers of BIH reminds, as confirmed at its 79th session of May 5, 2025, that under Article 10 of the Law on Financing of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is due, in accordance with tis own Book of Rules, to send a Proposal Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for next year to the Parliamentarian Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Presidency, pursuant to its Book of Rules Article 40, sends a Proposal Budget Law of Institutions of BIH and International Obligations of BIH to the Parliamentary Assembly of BIH, upon a recommendation by the Council of Ministers, provided that before sending the proposal, the Presidency may make consultations with Chair of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Finance and Treasury of BIH Institutions, as well as with Entity and the Brčko District of BIH Prime Ministers and Finance Ministers. Also, the Presidency, as the authorised proposer, may independently make corrections to the Budget, with a technical support by the Minister in charge.
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina reminds the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, having regard of the fact that the Council of Ministers sent the Draft Budget Law to the legal proposer, Presidency of BIH, on April 22, 2025 for further legal procedure, and that the Presidency of BIH send a feedback piece of information, on September 10, 2025, on the status of the Draft Law, due to which the dynamics of further action in the process is not within the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina responsibility.
INTER-GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED FOR NAVIGATION ON WATER WAYS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed decision on appointment of Bosnia and Herzegovina representatives with the Inter-Government Committee for Contract of Inner Waterways Navigation Implementation Monitoring and related marking and maintenance.
Under the Decision, representatives of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH, Republika Srspka Ministry of Transport and Communications, Federal Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government were appointed to the Committee. This way, previous BIH representatives with the Committee were replaced due to termination of their employment with responsible institutions.
The Contract on Inner Waterways Navigation, Marking and Maintenance, of February 20, 2024 between the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Republic of Croatia, sets forth establishment of the Inter-Government Committee, comprised of representatives appointed by the contracting parties, responsible for navigation monitoring and application of the Contract provisions.
CHILD COUNCIL ACTIVITIES IN JANUARY 2024 – AUGUST 2025
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Activity Report of the Child Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January 2024 – August 2025.
The BIH Child Council, active under the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, is an expert, cross-sector, advisory and coordination body of the Council of Ministers of BIH responsible for promotion and protection of rights of children in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly for implementation of the Child Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Within the reported time, one regular and one extraordinary (on-line) sessions were held, in addition to more than 10 meetings and consultations with a consultant for development of the Child Action Plan, engaged on behalf of UNICEF, since a major part of activities of the Child Council related to the 2026-2030 Action Plan development.
Based on competences, terms of reference and responsibilities, the BIH Child Council filled a series of initiatives with all-level competent institutions and initiated and took an active part in development and monitoring of strategic, plan and action documents from the child rights aera. It cooperated with Entity institutions in cases of care taking of children without adequate parent care and human trafficking child victims for the aim of protection of their rights.
In view of operative activities, notable was extremely good cooperation of the Child Council with NGO sector and academic community, as well as with international organisations dealing with promotion and protection of child rights, primarily with UNICEF, which supports development of the BIH Child Action Plan and technical solution finding for promotion of reporting under international conventions – UN Convention on Child Rights, primarily.
TO CONTINUE ACTIVIITES ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted 2024 Annual Report on Implementation of 2018-2027 Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Administration Reform Strategic Framework Action Plan.
Bosnia and Herzegovina made a slight progress in public administration reform in 2024. By the end of 2024, totally implemented were 17.66% of the Action Plan activities, and the assessed progress in 2024 relative to 2023 was higher for 1.87%. It is about a relative progress calculated as an average of progress made for each several administrative level.
Viewed by administration levels, institutions of Republika Srpska made the best result in 2024, fulfilling 27 activities (2%) entirely, 6 activities (5%) partially, while 101 activities (75%) remained unfulfilled. BIH Institutions, together, fulfilled 24 (18%) activities, while institutions of the Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BIH fulfilled 22 activities (16%) from the Action Plan. BIH Institutions fulfilled partially 8 activities (6%), and unfulfilled were 104 activities (76%). The Federation of BIH fulfilled partially 8 (6%) activities, and unfulfilled were 104 (78%) activities. The Brčko District of BIH fulfilled partially 7 (5%) activities, while unfulfilled remained 105 (78%) activities.
A meeting of a body in charge for coordination of public administration reform at political level – Coordination Committee – was held in 29294 for the first time, when responsible teams in different aeras of reform were appointed, and the Public Administration Reform Action Plan was revised and agreed.
In view of data on the progress achieved in measures and activities implementation from the Public Administration Reform Action Plan referred in 2024 Annual Report on the 2018-2027 Public Administration Reform Strategic Framework Action Plan, the Council of Ministers tasks all responsible institutions to act under general recommendations in terms of implementation of the public administration reform and several recommendations from reform areas under the Annual Report Action Plan.
The Governments of the Federation of BIH, Republika Srpska and Brčko District of BIH are recommended to task responsible institutions to act upon recommendations from reform areas of the Action Plan under 2024 Annual Progress Report.
The Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office should send the Annual Report, accompanied by the Council of Ministers relevant conclusion, to all relevant institutions.
HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Civil Affairs-tabled piece of information on implementation of 2024 Policies Action Recommendations with Road Map for Promotion of Inclusive Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs should cooperate with competent education authorities, the Agency for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education, as well as with other key stakeholders, to intensify activities on implementation of the third phase of the European Union and Council of Europe Joint Action titled “High Quality Education for All”.
This conforms dedication to an effective application of the “Action Policies Recommendations with Road Map for Promotion od Inclusive Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
The adopted piece of information offers a comprehensive view of implemented activities and achieved progress at all authority levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2024.The document shows in detail measures taken for ensuring high quality education and inclusive education, boosting democratic culture in schools, and implementation of non-discriminatory policies, in line with six specific Road Map-defined aims.
TO REGULATE AIR NAVIGATION SERVICE PROVISION BY BIH-UK AGREMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, in the second round of vote, a Proposal Platform for Negotiations on the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Agreement on air navigation service provision.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport should send the Proposal Platform, with the Draft Agreement, to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, along with a proposal for the Minister of Communications and Transport to act as the BIH signatory thereof.
An initiative for conclusion of the Agreement came out from a fact that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norther Ireland is not the EU member anymore, it is the third country, necessitating taking action to continue smooth service provision in air traffic.
Concluding the Agreement will create legal preconditions for regulation of air traffic, taking care of relevant international standards, including a possibility for air transporters to offer passengers a variety of service options.
It is about a standard text agreement from air traffic area, defining application of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), allocation of right of appointment of air transporter and work permit, taking off or suspension of work permit, release from payment of customs dues, tax, tariffs, use of rights, recognition of certificates and work permits, safety of air navigation, protection measures, environmental protection, dispute solving, and termination of agreements and other.
The Agreement should be in application temporarily until the day of signing thereof, i.e. mutual notification of parties in the Agreement on completion of their relative legal procedures.
REPEAT OF TARIFF QUATAS QUANTITIES FOR IMPORT OF ROW SUGAR CADE PRODUCTED SUGAR
The Council of Ministers of BUH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on repeat of quantities of tariff quotas in 2025 on import of raw sugar from sugar cane for refining.
The Decision was based on a request sent by the “STUDEN-AGRANA Sugar refinery, Ltd. Brčko in end June, as the sole producer of refined sugar in BIH.
BIH CITIZENSHIP IN SPORTS AND ECONOMY
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on granting citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a citizen of the Republic of Serbia Velida Aličković, upon a proposal by the Football Fedefation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an individual of a particular importance for sports.
Also, a Decision was taken on granting citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a citizen of the Russian Federation Ljudmila Budilova, as an individual of particular importance for economy, upon a proposal by the Chamber of Commerce of Republika Srpska.
NO APPOINTMETN FOR SIPA DEPUTY MANAGER
The Council of Ministers of BIH failed to reach an agreement, in the first round of vote, on appointment of Deputy Manager of the State Investigations and Protection Agency. (end)
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