Council of Ministers Holds Its 41st Session

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Conclusion and Execution of International Treaties, with an aim at introduction of an urgent procedure of shortening of ratification deadlines for credit contracts, so as to avoid financial consequences to BIH. The BIH Foreign Ministry will provide the Proposal Law to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH. 

The proposed solutions prescribe an urgent ratification procedure for internationaltreaties to be applied upon the conclusion of credit arrangements. In relation to regular procedure, which calls for a 15-day deadline for competent Ministry to provide the signed contact to the Foreign Ministry, the proposed urgent procedure shortens the deadline for to 5 days.

The Proposal Law provides for the Foreign Ministry to develop a proposal decision on international contractratificationin no longer than seven days, and provide it to the Presidency of BIH, which will forward it to the Parliamentarian Assemblyin the and same time span for prior consent to ratification. Within 15 days deadline, the Parliamentarian Assemblyis to decide on granting prior consent to ratification of aninternational treaty.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, by majority vote, a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Single ID number, which the Ministry of Civil Affairs is to forward to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for adoption under an urgent procedure, for the purpose of implementation of the BIH Constitutional Court Decision and removal of legal obstacles for determining the single ID number of individuals.

By amending Article 5 of the Law, registration areas are defined and their numbers defined at the same time, which would enable defining of a single ID number of individuals and registration of new-borns in registration books, including the issuance of personal and other documents. This to eliminate human right violation, especially in view of deprivation of freedom of movement and health care.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on defining a body responsible for cooperation with regulatory agencies in the area of audio-visual media services, and on defining a body responsible for setting-up a list of top-events important for broadcasting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This way, the Council of Ministers of BIH harmonises this area with the EU Directive on Audio-Visual Media Services, and meets a precondition for staring a process of accession to the “MEDIA 2007” Programme.

Under the Decision, the Regulatory Agency for Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be responsible for cooperation with regulatory agencies from the area of audio-visual media services in EU member countries, while the Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, will define a list of the important top-events which are not broadcasted in BIH on the base of exclusivity.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Framework Loan Agreement between BIH and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for Health Service Development Project, Phase II, worth EUR 9.2 million.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement to the Presidency of BIH, an Minister Nikola Špirić is proposed for the BIH signatory.

The CEB Loan (EUR 5.5 for FBIH, EUR 3.7 million for RS) is intended primarily for reconstruction and development of new clinics,. The Loan repayment terms is 20 year, and with 5 year grace period.

Under the Project, the CEB and World Bank continue investing into the health care sector, i.e. the Phase II of Reconstruction and Development of Primary Health Care Sector, which started in 2006.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Protocol between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH and Ministry for National Economy of the Republic of Hungary on SMEs Cooperation, which provides a support to fostering of competitiveness of Hungarian and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s enterprises at regional and global markets.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the Proposal Protocol to the BIH Presidency, while Minister Mirko Šarović is proposed for the BIH signatory.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Grant Agreement between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Bosnia and Herzegovina – (SIDA BIH), in amount of SEK 90 million, on implementation of municipal infrastructural projects for water supply and sanitation in BIH.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency, and Minister Nikola Špirić is proposed for the BIH signatory.

The purpose of the Project is to improve service in respect to environmental infrastructure, to be provided in compliance with EU Directives and expected to result in environmental protection and health improvement.

The funds of the Programme, scheduled to last until 2016, will be allocated to the Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve the utilisation of the “Co-Financing of Cultural Institutions in BIH Programme for 2013” grant funds in amount of KM180,000 for the Museum of Contemporary Art of Republika Srpska, in order to cover costs of renting of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Pavilion at the Venetian Biennale in 2013, including utility costs and staff reimbursements.

By the end of last year, the Council of Ministers of BIH accepted the participation at the 55th Venetian Biennale of Contemporary Arts in 2013, where it will be represented by artist Mladen Mljanović with the projects curators dr. Sarita Vujković and dr Ifran Hošić, and the exhibition commissioner Braco Dimitrijević..

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information concerning an Agreement for mediation in employing of Bosnia and Herzegovna’s workers in the Federal Republic of Germany for definite time, and tasked the BIH Agency for Labour and Employment to cooperate with the Entity and Brčko District Employment Services in order to start negotiations with the German counterparts for a finalisation of the Agreement on mediation for workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina for a definite employment in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Council authorised the manager of the BIH Agency for Labour and Employment to sign an agreement, following the finalisation of the text Agreement on mediation in employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s worker in the Federal republic of Germany for definite time, and inform accordingly the Council of Ministers of BIH, sector Ministry and other competent BIH Institutions alike.

The Labour Agency of the Federal Republic of Germany sent, via diplomatic channels, the Draft Agreement to the BIH Agency for Labour and Employment, stating that the German side is interested in employment of BIH workers o medical profession – paramedics – which are being offered by the Agreement the identical labour rights as to the employed domicile workers.

The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Ministry of Foreign trade and Economic relations to prepare a draft legislation, based on compiled opinions and proposed activity schedule, on amendment s and supplements of the Law on Establishment of Power Transmission Company in BIH, and send it, as early as possible, to the Council of Ministers of BIH for consideration.

Previously, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations concerning the document titled “Activity Schedule, Deadlines Concerning  Power Transmission in BIH”.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Border Management, held between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Croatia, and European Commission, and tasked all competent institutions to accelerate implementation of all measures and activities directed towards the fulfilment of requirements taken up by BIH, by July 1 this year, and inform the Council of Ministers accordingly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH is tasked to undertake necessary diplomatic activities towards the EU member states and institutions in order to keep the existing regime of border crossing between BIH and the Republic of Croatia.

The Directorate for European Integrations is tasked to provide the Council of Ministers of BIH with a Proposal Amendment of Decision on Appointment of Advisory Board for Development of a Prefeasibility Study for the Neum Corridor.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH is tasked to cooperate with competent institutions of Republika Srpska and obtain, as soon as possible, required consent for the construction of a bridge in Gradiška so that institutions of the Republic of Croatia might ensure the construction permit for the construction of the bridge.

The Administration for Phytosanitary Protection of BIH is tasked to apply as soon as possible to the European Commission for export of potato to EU countries, in accordance with previously defined procedure.

The State commission for Integrated Border Management is tasked to monitor implementation of activities, called for under the Action Plan, and inform the European Commission monthly, via the directorate for European Integrations of BIH.

The Ministry of Security is tasked to deliver needed documentation, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the completion of a request of the Republic of Croatia to the Council of EU with a view to enable keeping the regime for BIH citizens of crossing the border only with ID cards, after July 1, 2013.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH is tasked to undertake appropriate diplomatic activities towards EU member states and competent institutions, for the purpose of keeping the existing regime of crossing the border between BIH and the Republic of Croatia.

The Second Trilateral meeting on border management was held in Brussels on February 15, 2013, under the chairmanship of Štefan Fule, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy. The BIH delegation at that meeting was led by Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH and Foreign Minister dr Zlatko Lagumdžija, and Croatian delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs dr Vesna Pusić.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to form an inter-sector work group for development of an inceptive report on self-assessment of the implementation of the UN Anti-Corruption Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina within 90 day deadline from its setting-up.

The Work group will be comprised of representatives of State Ministries of Justice, Security, Foreign Affairs, Agency for Prevention and Combating of Corruption, and High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BIH, Entity Ministries of Justice and Interior, Judicial Commission and Police of the Brčko District of BIH.

The State Ministries of Justice and Security are tasked to coordinate activities under the implementation revision process, and to appoint, within 15 days, a person each for cooperation and communication with the Secretariat of the UN Office for Drugs and Crime in Vienna, as well a with states responsible for a direct supervision in BIH, with an aim at development of a final report on self-assessment of the implementation of the UN Anti-Corruption Convention in BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Annual Report of the Ministry of Security on implementation of Action Plan for the Prevention and Suppression of Criminal Acts concerning motor vehicles by 2015, which stresses the improvement of institutional capacities in combating car-criminal and strengthening of inter-institutional cooperation in BIH and continued development of international cooperation in this sector.

The Report contains a break down of activities, resulting in a positive outcome in suppression of car-crime, implemented in coordinated efforts by the following institutions, namely: State level Ministries of Justice and Security, Indirect Taxation Administration, Border Police, State Investigation and Protection Agency, NCP Interpol Sarajevo, Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency, Federal Police Administration, Cantonal Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Interior of Republika Srpska and Brčko District, and Entity Ministries of Justice and judicial institutions.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Regulation on Amendments and Supplements to the Regulation on requirements for marketing, quality and control of mineral fertilizers and storing and handling with mineral fertilizers, for the purpose of bringing this area into conformity with the EU regulations and BIH regulations adopted after the adoption of the basic text regulation.

The Amendments prescribe, among other things, that legal or natural persons engaged in wholesale trading with mineral fertilizers must own or lease appropriate warehouse of either open or closed type.

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