Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 90th Session

TIGHTER LINKS WITH EU: ACCESSION TO ACADEMY OF EUROPEAN LAW TRIER

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for conclusion od a Formal Accession Agreement between the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier, as n important step in strengthening legal system of the country and making tighter links with the European Union in this area.

The initiative, coming from the Entity centres for training of judges and prosecutors, with support by the Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska, is a chance for improvement og legal system of BIH and better harmonisation with the EU acquis in processes of boosting democratic values, rule of law and respect of human rights.

Affiliation with the Academy of European Law opens possibilities for an active participation in processes of harmonisation of national law with EU standards and it contributes not only to legal, but to political and economically sustainable integration and further prosperity of our country.

Prosecutors, civil servants and MPs from BIH will get an access to specialised seminars, workshops and further professional development. The Academy offer rich archives of legal resources, on-line courses and multilingual materials to help advance quality of domestic legislation and support European integrations.

The Ministry of Justice will provide the Formal Agreement with Platform for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency to further legally established procedure.

TRAININGS IN EUROPEAN INTEGRATIONS INCLUDED IN ALL RELEVANT GROUPS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Directorate for European Integrations-proposed decision on training in European integrations area, aimed at inclusion in the training of all relevant stakeholder groups in the EU integrations process in BIH.

The decision enlarges the original target group, in line with requests by NGOs, media and academic community in the light of future negotiations. The aim is continued improvement of knowledge and awareness on the European integrations process and creation of an alternative expert base to contribute to the European integrations process.

INCREASE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE IN FIRST HALF OF 2025

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled analysis of foreign trade exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for I-VI 2025, marked by an increase of both import and export relevant to the same time last year.

The total goods exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first half of 2025 was KM 23.11 billion and is higher for 4.89 per cent compared to the same time last year. The value of exported goods was KM 8.43 billion, and the value of imported goods was KM 14.68 billion, making KM 6.25 billion foreign exchange deficit.

The growth of export by 5.83 per cent and of import by 4.49 per cent resulted in 0.73 per cent growth of coverage of import by export.

Bosnia and Herzegovina exported mostly electric power, of total value of KM 439.4 million, followed by isolated wire and cables in amount of KM 366.1 million, iron or still constructions and part of these worth KM 274.7 million, parts and tools for motor and towing vehicles worth KM 268 million, and seats and their parts worth KM 242. 4 million.

Over the same time, BIH imported mostly petroleum oils, apart from rude ones, worth KM 1.04 billion, passenger vehicles in amount of KM 681.2 million, medicines worth KM 383.9 million, and electric energy worth KM 344 million.

The European Union is still the most important foreign trade partner to BIH, and goods worth KM 6.23 billion were exported to the Eu countries, which is 4.94 per cent more than in the first half oof 2024, while the import was LM 8.55 billion or 1.57 per cent more, compared with the same time last year. The trade deficit was decreased for 6.47 per cent, relevant to the first half of 2024, and it was KM 2.32 billion.

Among major trade partners, Bonia and Herzegovina has the major coverage of import by export with Austria (155.7 per cent), Slovenia (130.84 per cent), Croatia (118.80 per cent), and Germany (74.71 per cent).

CONSUMER PROTECTION WITHIN CEFTA ZONE

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on implementation of a decision by the Joint Board of Central European Free Trade Agreement No. 4/2024 on prevention of unjust geo-blocking, i.e. consumer discrimination based on citizenship, domicile or business establishment.

Taking the decision, Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfils the obligations it assumed from the CEFTA Agreement.

The Decision defines responsible bodies, sets forth fines for infringers and secures consumer protection in cross-border trade situations within CEFTA zone.

STEERING BOARD OF BIH INSURANCYE AGENCY APPOINTED

A Decision on appointment of members of the Insurance Agency of BIH Steering Board was taken, in the second round of vote, upon the Ministry of Finance and Treasury proposal, after the previous members’ term expired.

President of the seven-member Agency’s Steering Board will be Vedrana Vuković Perduv, financial expert with insurance relevant experience, whole two members are representatives of the Council of Ministers of BIH, of which one from the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and other from the insurance area.

REGUALTION ON BIH PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE SERVICE VEHICLES FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to adoption of a Regulation on conditions of purchase and use of service vehicles for specialised purposes of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The regulation sets for the that the Prosecutor’s Office of BIH disposes of 20 vehicles: four vehicles of a higher middle class of purchase value to KM 130,000; three vehicles of middle class of purchase value to KM 70,000; and eight vehicles of lower middle class of purchase value to KM 60,000, and five vehicles of lower purchase value to KM 30,000. The vehicles purchase will be made successively within approved budget resources.

PIECE FOF INFORMATION ON NEW EU BORDER CROSSING SYSTEM

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of the Ministry of Security-tabled piece of information on a new system of EU border management - entry and exit system (EES) - to be introduced progressively in October 12, 2025 to April 9, 2026 time span.

The new system will replace the current way of operation, i.e. passport sealing by hand, all for the aim of security improvement through advanced border control, use of electronic records and biometric data.

The EES will process data at border crossings for passengers not holders of citizenship of any of EU member countries (nor of citizenship of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland), on travel for a short stay (90 day within any 180-time span), each time they cross the outer border of any of 29 European countries applying the system. The recorded data will be those from travel document, date and place of each entrance and exit, as well as biometric data such as face photo and fingerprints, to be collected by officers on the first traveller’s border crossing upon the start of use of EES system. The data will be stored in a digital record base and checked on any succeeding border crossing.

The Ministry of Security of BIH plans to organise informative campaigns trough media, leaflets and posters, so that citizens might be informed better of the procedures.

PIECE OF INFORMATION ON IMPLEMENTATON OF ROAD MAP FOR EU DIRECIVE ON REGULATED PROFESSIONS IMPLEMENTATION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, upon the Ministry of Civil Affairs proposal, a piece of information on implementation of the Road Map for implementation of the EU Directive on regulated professions 2005/36EC and 2013/55 EU for 2024, with a review of activities undertaken.

The Council of Ministers of BIH urged all relevant institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to intensify implementation activities to contribute to implementation of recommendations from the Road Map for implementation of EU Directive on regulated professions 2005/36EC and 2013/55EU.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Road Map for implementation of the EU Directive on regulated professions 2005/36EC and 2013 55EU, in 2015.

The Rad Map sets priority steps for transposing the Directive into the Bosnia and Herzegovina legislation.

REALISATION OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH CONCLUSIONS

The session took note of a review of conclusions implementation from 24 sessions of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, held between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025 - 16 regular and eight extraordinary sessions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH Secretariat General-drafted review covered 40 institutions, which realised 254 conclusions out of total 309 adopted, with the implementation share of 82.20 per cent.

Responsible Ministries and other institutions should embrace realisation of all conclusions in the process of implementation without delay.

The Council of Ministers of BIH underlined a need for strengthening of monitoring mechanism and conclusions implementation control to the end of increased institutions’ efficacy and accountability.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled 2024 Public Finance Management Improvement Strategy Annual Implementation Report in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 2025 Annual Action Plan.

By implementation of an overarching strategy, as well as several strategies from all-level institutions, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues fulfilling all obligations assumed within the EU accession process, by following relevant international recommendations.

The review of realisation of planned activities and of results within the Public Finance Management Improvement Strategy in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2024 confirms a continuous progress by all six Strategy pillars, that includes fiscal framework, indirect tax revenues, budget planning and drafting, internal control, and external audit. Target values were fully realised for seven pillar result indicators, and partially for 14 of them. Two target indicator values were not realised, while deadlines for realisation of five indicators has not been expired yet, having regard that they are mostly multi-annual activities.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted 2021-2025 Public Finance Management Improvement Strategy, followed by an overarching Public Finance Management Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

FREE ZONES IN BIH 2024 OPERATIONS REPORT ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a report on business results of all free zones in Bosnia and Herzegovina for January 1 – December 31, 2024.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH should continue monitoring operation of free zones in Bosnia and Herzegovina and take all needed steps for the purpose of compliance with all legal regulations relevant to free zones’ operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are four zones currently operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely: “Visoko”, Ltd. Visoko; “Vogošća”, Ltd. Vogošća; “Hercegovina”, Ltd. Mostar, and “Hole”, Ltd. Puračić.

The report contains data on zones users, values of import from abroad and domestic sales, production, export and placement to domestic market. All zones indicated positive results, in accordance with relevant regulations.

In the Visoko“ free zone, the total value of produced goods was KM 102,193,009.51, of which KM 96,759,173.50 (95%) was exported abroad. In “Vogošća” free zone, the total value of produced goods was KM 28,802,736, of which the exported goods value was KM 28,785,569 (99%). For “Herzegovina” zone, the total value of goods produced was KM 131,821,717.60, of which KM 89,053,219.42 (68%) was exported. In “Hole” zone, the value of produced goods was KM 47,066,148.12, and exported goods were valued at KM 45.905,152.36 (98%). (end) 

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