Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 113th Session
06/17/2026
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
ALLOCATION OF PREMISES TO MINISTRY OF SECURITY
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to allocate premises to the Ministry of Security of BIH in the ground floor of the Building of Friendship between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the purpose of setting-up an Office for Registration, Interview and Asylum Procedure of the Ministry of Security of BIH and for accommodation of a Team for Response to Computer Incidents in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of 113m2 total surface, namely 33m2 for the Ministry of Security Office for Registration, Interview and Asylum Procedure , and 80 m2 for the Team for Response to Computer Incidents.
The arrangement of the Ministry of Security Office for Registration, Interview and Asylum Procedure was financed under the “2022 Individual Measure for Western Balkans Border Management Capacity Building Project”, and arrangement of premises for the Team for Response to Computer incidents in Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina was financed under UNDP-implemented “Capacity Building for Cyber Security in BIH Project”, financed by the German Government.
AMENDED DECISION APPROVES USE OF REMIFENTANIL FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on Amendments and Supplements to the List of Narcotics, Psychotropic Matters and Herbs and Precursors.
Under the decision, “remifentanil” drug within the list of “Forbidden Matters and Herbs” is moved to a list of “Matters and Herbs under Strict Control”, allowing the use thereof in therapeutic purposes, as irreplaceable drug for general anaesthesia.
REVISED LAON CONTRACT FOR FOČA – HUM ROAD PROEJCT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled Proposal Loan Contract (Foča – Hum Road Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
It is a revised text of an earlier approved contract, as required by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in a part of standard term for accounting of fees for approved and not withdrawn money, as well as in a part of adjusted interest rate range within relevant market interest rate.
Earlier, the Council of Ministers of BIH annulled a conclusion from its 110th session of May 5, 2026, on defining a Proposal Contract, and the BIH Presidency was proposed to make invalid its conclusion on adoption of the Contract.
The Proposal Contract with Platform for its conclusion defined today will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure, with a proposal for the Minister of Finance and Treasury as the BIH signatory thereof.
It is about EUR 60 million loan, allocated to Republika Srpska, “Roads of Republika Srpsska” Company, for rehabilitation of the existing and construction of new parts of road along the border communication Foča-Hum. The Project is expected to be finalised until Dec. 31, 2029.
MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION IN TOURISM
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Proposal for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Tourism between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and “Katar Tourism” of the State of Katar for the aim of strengthening of bilateral relations.
The Memorandum is in function of development of different forms of cooperation in tourism to yield mutual benefit in the two countries, both recognising touristic potential as one of pillars of economic development.
The proposal for conclusion of the Memorandum will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure with a proposal for the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to act as the BIH signatory thereof.
INTERNATIAONAL DAY OF REFUGEES
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BIH for illumination of the Building of Friendship between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina on night June 18 and 19, 2026, to mark the International Day of Refugees.
In co-organisation of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees od BIH and UN High Commissariat for Refugees (UNHCR), the Building of Friendship between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be illuminated by official mark of the World Day od Refugees (stylised solidarity rope).
The Council of Ministers of BIH expresses its strong support to solidarity and commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to human rights and international obligations respect.
The BIH Institutions General Service and Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina will take all needed activities for technical and organisational implementation of the task.
FUNDS SECURED FOR DOCTOR OF MEDICINE SPECIALSIATION IN ARMED FORCES OF BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Programme of Expert Education and Training of Doctor of Medicine in Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and tasked the Ministry of Defence to enable implementation of the Programme.
The Programme plans total nine Doctors of Medicine to be sent between 2026 and 2028 to specialistic training with civil health institutions. The costs of specialisation are planned to amount to KM 12,000 by a trainee annually, and total KM 36,000 were planned for three specialisations.
For the protection of interest protection of the Ministry of Defence of BIH, contracts will be concluded with trainees, obliging them to stay in service with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina double time length of specialisation.
2026 BIH DEMINING PLAN
The Council of Ministers of BiH took the Ministry of Civil Affairs-proposed Bosnia and Herzegovina Demining Plan for 2026, drafted by the Mine Action Centre of BIH.
According to estimations, suspicious dangerous mine contaminated surface in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 774.69 km2, which is 1,51% of total surface of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 2006 Demining Plan includes basic goals, namely: demining of suspicious dangerous surface, removal of mines and explosive devices remained from the war for the aim of prevention of accidents and safe use of surfaces for population and decrease of number of inhabitants exposed to a direct risk. The planned reduction of suspicious surface in 20026 is KM m2.
The focus of anti-mine actions will still be the threatened local communities. decrease of mine risk and its social-economic effect, to be implemented through an integral approach to anti-mine actions and through a concept of “surfaces recovery by formation of mine suspicious areas”, for the aim of risk elimination or its reduction to an acceptable level, to create conditions for use of certain resources and enable reconstruction and sustainable return.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE IN QI 2026
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled Analysis of Foreign Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for I-III 2026.
Total goods exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first quarter of 2026 was KM 11,41 billion, of which import was KM 4.15 billion and import reached KM 7.25 billion, with a foreign trade deficit of KM 3.10 billion.
Compared with the first quarter of 2025, an increase of total foreign exchange was 0.77%, where import was increased for 0.93%, export for 0.50%, and foreign trade deficit was increased for 1.51%. The coverage of import by export was 57.25%, 0.25% less relevant to the same time 2025.
The European Union is still the key foreign trade partner of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and export to EU countries in QI 2026 was KM 3.21 billion, or 5.17% more relevant to the same time a year before.
The total indicator of goods exchange in the first quarter of 2026 confirms that Bosnia and Herzegovina makes a slight growth of foreign trade activities, simultaneously staying faced with a high foreign trade deficit and notable import dependence. One among the key future challenges is strengthening of competitiveness of domestic production and increase of export base.
The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to provide quartal analyses on foreign trade exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
QI 2026 BIH BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report on Execution of Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Liabilities of BIH for I-III 2026, to be posted at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury’s web site.
The total implemented revenues, supports and finances of Institutions of BIH, including receivables from fix assets sales in the first quarter of 2026 were KM 290.825, 245.
The total realised expenditures and costs from the Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this quarter were KM 323,947,717 and were executed in a higher amount for about KM 9.1 million, due to an increase of current expenses.
Since the Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2026 has bot been adopted, financing of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first quarter of 2026 was made based on an Instruction on temporary financing of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January-March 2026.
Based on foreign debt obligations, KM 246.76 million was paid in QI 2026 for servicing of all debts due.
FIRST DEGREE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES RESULTED IN 96.32 PER CENT FILES SOLVED IN PARTY’S FAVOUR
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a Synthesis Annual Report on Administrative Procedure Solutions in 2025, drafted by the Ministry of Justice of BIH Administrative Inspectorate.
The Ministry of Justice of BIH Administrative Inspectorate should give priority to surveillance over administrative solution-finding, in their inspection monitoring with administrative bodies and institutions with public authorisations.
The Report covers 200 administrative areas within competence of 70 administrative bodies and institutions with public authorisations, which provided their respective reports.
The Synthesis Report includes 286.755 first degree administrative procedures taken in 0225 and 4,462 second degree administrative procedures.
Data suggest that most of files in the first-degree procedures were solved timely (88.93%), or in the process of solving within legal deadline (4.65%), which together represents 93.58 % of total files dealt with within legal deadline. A major part of the first-degree files were solved to parties’ benefit (96.32%).
Out of total number if the second-degree administrative procedures, 1,890 or 41.43% were complete within legal deadline, and 1,378 or 30.21% after relevant deadline, while the remaining files were sent to action to competent body (120 or 2.63%), and 1,180 or 25.87% are in the process of solving.
AMICABLE SOLUTION OF INVESTMENT DISPUTE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information from the Chief Attorney’s Office of BIH on a request for negotiations before initiating an arbitrage procedure, filled by the Gibson&Dunn & Crutcher GMbH from Zurich, Switzerland, on behalf of investor MI GALAMES, Ltd and its owner Draan Čućić.
The session took a decision to appoint an ad hic negotiating Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina for amicable solution of international investment disputes in this procedure, appointing three representatives from relevant institutions of the Brčko District of BIH.
Certain assignments were given to members and ad hoc members of the Negotiating Team of Bosnia and Herzegovina for amicable solution of international investment disputes as to cooperation with the Chief Attorney’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and holding of meetings with the investor’s representatives for the purpose of considering possibility of sn amicable solution of the investment dispute.
The BIH Chief Attorney’s Office should report regularly the negotiations status to the Council of Ministers of BIH.
ORGANIC PRODUCTION AS RELEVANT POTENTIAL FOR BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information on status of organic production in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations should cooperate with competent institutions of Entities and Brčko District of BIH to continue observing relevant EUI legislation and taking activities for harmonisation of domestic legislation with EU acquis.
The organic production in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still underdeveloped despite considerable potentials.
The production continues to be of a small volume, and among predominant organic products there are medicine and aromatic herbs.
Strengthening of institutional support and financial mechanisms may contribute significantly to accelerate transition to sustainable agriculture.
AMLFT REPORT ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security-tabled 2025 Implementation Report of 2024-2027 Anti Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Bosnia and Herzegovina Action Plan connected with virtual property.
The report provides detailed breakdown of measures taken in 2025 for both effective surveillance over service provides connected with virtual property and minimising risk of misuse of cryptocurrencies for illegal purposes.
Out of total 20 operative activities taken last year, five of them weer fully implemented, while the remaining 15 or 75% activities are in the process of partial implementation, meaning that implementation of certain activities has not started yet.
The adopted document confirms that significant steps were taken in development of institutional and legal framework over the reported time, in which service providers were recognised as bound by measures implementation within the Framework Law on Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities.
The Ministry of Security of BIH should, on behalf of the Council of Ministers of BIH, require from competent institutions intensification of the started Action Plan implementation activities.
BIH COMMITTED TO AIMS OF “PARTNERSHIP FOR OPEN GOVERMENT” INITIATIVE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Justice-tabled Implementation Report of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2025-2027 Action Plan for “Partnership for Open Government” Initiative.
The Report indicates that as the Action Plan was adopted at the 84th session of the Council of Ministers of BIH of July 8, 2025, majority of assignments are in the initial phase of implementation.
This is the third Action Plan of the Council of Ministers of BIH for implementation of the “Partnership for Open Government” Initiative, by which Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to show its commitment to the Initiative aims, together with the European integration processes.
The Action Plan is a result of shared efforts of civil society organisations and public administration bodies in the process of defining priority areas and measures development for improvement of openness of public administration bodies before citizens.
The Action Plan was drafted pursuant to principles of the “Partnership for Open Government” Initiative, joined by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024.
2025 IMPLEMETNATION OF LAW ON MOVEMENT CONTROL OF ARMS AND MILITARY EQUIPEMNET
The Council of Ministers adopted the Ministry of Security-tabled Implementation Report of the Law on Movement Control of Arms and Military Equipment in 2025.
The Report indicates that 1,026 decisions were issued in 2025 allowing movement of arms and military equipment, 5.4% more than in 2024. It is about 426 decisions for import and 600 decisions for export of arms and military equipment. Requests for movement of arms and military equipment were filed by 45 economic entities.
Issued were 501 consents for movement among Entities, Cantons and the Brčko District of BIH; two request wee refused.
By analysis of requests for movement of arms and military equipment, it was found and import/export took place mostly at the following border crossings: Airport Sarajevo (259 crossings); Orašje (139); Vardište (281); Rača (121), and Gradiška (116) crossings.
GROWTH TREND OF FOREIGN LABOUR ENGAGEMENT IN BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Civil Affairs-tabled Annual Implementation Report of Decision on Defining Annual Quota of Work Permits for Foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The analysis of issued work permits to foreign citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025 shows a continuation of a growth trend of engagement of foreign labour. The total number of valid work permits was 6,702 or 15.9% more relevant to 2024. The most notable growth was identified in Respublika Srpska, while a decrease relevant to the year before was reported in the Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BIH.
Replenishment of total annual quota was 62%, in which the quota was almost fully used in Republika Srpska (99%), while in the Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BH it remained partially unreplenished. As to the issued permits, predominating are new ones, compared to the extended one, which indicates at a continuous need for additional labour.
Viewed by activities, most of work permits are issued in civil construction, processing industry and services, trade and catering. Also, a shift of qualifications structure was evident, namely lower qualification labour were more engaged, while a share of university degree workers decreased.
As to counties of origin, most of work permits were issued to citizens of India, Nepal, Turkey, Serbia and Bangladesh, with a notable increase of workers from Asian counties. Gender structure shows notable dominance of male labour (86%), which is connected to activities in which foreigners are usually engaged in.
Although a share of foreigners in total employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains low (0.8% in 2025), continued growth is notable for the last three years, showing gradual strengthening of role of foreign labour, especially in branches faced with shortage of domestic labour.
IMPLEMENTATION REPOTS OF TWO AGREEMETN S BETWTEEN BIH NAD MONTENEGRO
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Security-tabled May 23, 2025-April 23,2026 Activity Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina representatives appointed to Joint Monitoring Committee for implementation of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of Montenegro on Broder Crossings for International Transport and Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on Border Crossings for Border Area Traffic.
The report reviews implementation activities of the two Agreements concluded between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro on border crossings for international transport and border crossing for border area traffic.
It is about activities taken for the purpose of faster flow of people and goods at border crossings of the two states with an increased level of border security, including acceleration of controls during summer to decrease congestion at borders.
OFFICIAL VEHICLES FOR SPECIALISED PURPOSES TO VETERINARY OFFICE OF BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed, upon a proposal by he Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, a Proposal Rulebook on Amendment Rulebook on conditions of purchase and use of official vehicles for specialised purposes of the veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
According to the amended Rulebook, the Veterinary Office should have 17 official vehicles for special purposes at its disposal, six vehicles more relevant to the existing Rulebook.
It is about motor vehicles of lower mid class, of KM 60,000 purchase price, namely, 16 field vehicles for specialised purposes and two cargo vehicles. All official vehicles for specialised purposes were granted to the Veterinary Office of BIH within implementation of the remaining IPA2021 funds, of total EUR four million intended to agriculture.
BONUSES FOR PERFORMING COMPLEX INFORAMTIC-APPLIACTION OPERATIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Supplements to Decision on bonuses on salary to employees with the Council of Ministers of BIH Secretariat General, based on earlier taken Council of Ministers’ decision on criteria for defining bonus to salary, based on performing complex informatic-applicative operations in Institutions of BIH.
By a decision on a higher expert assistant - network administrator with the Service for maintenance and development of electronic operations and e-government is defined 20% bonus to salary.
RELEASE AND APPOINTMENT
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Civil Affairs-tabled piece of information on resignment of member of the Agency for Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education Board from Croat people, and the resignation of Željka Marković-Sekulić was accepted.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will, pursuant to the Law on Agency for Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education, Law on Ministerial Appointments, Appointments of the Council of Ministers and Other Appointments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, publish a job vacancy ad for selection and appointment of a member of the Agency for Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education from Croatian people.
The Council of Ministers of BIH released Tarik Rabić from his duty of Manager of the Public Procurement Agency of BIH due to his term expiry, and Elvir Rožnjaković was appointed acting manager until the end of relevant job vacancy procedure, for three months at longest.
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