Minister Hadžić Licence for Railway Services Provision Handed Over to FBIH Railways



Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH Damir Hadžić handed over to President of the Directorate and General Manger of the FBIH Railways Nijaz Puzić a licence for service provision of railway transport for passengers and cargo, marking a completion of the reconstruction process of the Railways of FBIH, in line with the first package of EU directives, dividing the operation from infrastructure expenditures.

While addressing at the appropriate ceremony, Minister of Communications and Transport of BIH Damir Hadžić said that the Ministry of Communications and Transport, through the Regulatory Board of BIH Railways, secured all preconditions for the interested companies in BIH to get licenced in a way identical as in the EU member countries, which made us ready for mutual recognition of all regulatory documents, under presumption of application of the reciprocity principle.

“A licence means a market principle of business making, clear definition of both expenditures and revenues, reimbursement to infrastructure manager for use of infrastructure, and improved accountability of each individual organisation unit”, said Minister Hadžić.

Minister Hadžić mentioned a necessity of infrastructure manager to take care of additional sources for maintenance of the railway infrastructure, adding that the Council of Ministers of BIH will submit an initiative to the Indirect Taxation Administration, aiming to  find as high quality solution as possible.

President of the Directorate of FBIH Railways Nijaz Puzić thanked for the licence, and stressed that its receipt is a precondition for licencing staff and cars as a part of the next restructuring measure, if an access to open transport labour market is sought.

“The licence is a prerequisite for smooth international railway transport, since the border with the EU is one step away from us. Our objective is to provide as high level as possible of services in both cargo and passenger transport, which might be possible based on an adequate structural model of railway sector organisation according to the EU legislative”, Puzić said.

In his address, Federal Minister of Transport and Communications Enver Bijedić said that the FBIH Railways are relevant not only for the Federation of BIH, but rather for the whole of BIH, and that he will undertake all activities needed for as efficient as possible funding of railway infrastructure, which is the obligation of the owner.