Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Minister of Finance and Treasury Dr Nikola Špirić met in Sarajevo today with OSCE Mission Chief in BIH Fletcher Burton.
Minister Špirić informed Ambassador Burton of the current situation in BIH, and activities concerning the adoption of the 2012 BIH Budget. Špirić said that the Budget will be a restrictive one, in accordance with conclusions of the BIH Fiscal Council and adopted Global Fiscal Framework for 2012-2014, which call for a series of savings and reduction of public spending.
The Minister of Finance and Treasury of B)IH said that there is an issue of adjusting real possibilities and best international practices with legal solutions requiring additional expenses, such as payment of pensions to prematurely retired members of the BIH Armed Forces. In his discussion with Burton, Špirić underlined the on-going efforts to find solution to this issue, reminding of a World Bank assessment that a retirement of persons of 35 years of age is not in line with the best international practice, and that this solution might threaten Entity pension Funds.
Ambassador Burton expressed his support to reform implementation, along with courage to move into the process in condition of reduced public spending and required systematic problem solving. Burton added that the OSCE has prepared an analysis in the area of social welfare to might produce a constructive contribution to tackling with the problems.
Špirić and Burton agreed on a necessity of reform implementation in BIH on its road to the EU, as well as of fulfilment of the obligations, such as the implementation of the ECHR Award in case Sejdić&Finci.
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