Council of Ministers Holds Its 102nd session

The Council of Ministers of BIH, discussing the current developments after May 2014 floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluded that ahead of a donor conference scheduled in Brussels a meeting should be held with Entity Prime Ministers in order to set priority assistance projects for flooded areas. 

The Cross-Cector Work Group is tasked to accelerate the process of development the criteria for assistance allocation in order to present them at the next Council of Ministers session.

Council of Ministers of BIH, at its session held on June 25, 2014, tasked the Indirect Taxation Administration to solve the issue of an UNCH donation, by June 27, 2014, at latest, in cooperation with Entity Health Ministries and other competent institutions, in accordance with the existing legal regulations, and report to the Council of Ministers accordingly.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered a Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Budget of BIH Institutions and International obligations of BIH for 2014.

In regard to that, the Council of Ministers tasked all budget users in BIH to provide to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury corrections of their respective budgets to at least 1 per cent range, for the purpose of setting aside additional funds for aiding the flood-affected areas.

 

The Council of Ministers considered a Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Foreign Direct Investments Policy in BIH, aimed to enhance legal certainty and improve and simplify the overall process of foreign direct investments inflow, i.e. to improve business environment and investment climate.

The Amendments and Supplements target a barriers removal in both public and private business sectors, so that investors could receive a clear sign that BIH is committed to attraction of new and maintenance of expansion of the existing foreign investments, to allow for new jobs and consequent strengthening of country’s economic development.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH received Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on Multi-Beneficiary IPA II (2014-2020) and Draft IPA II 2014-2020 Cross-Country Strategic Document.

The Multi-Beneficiary IAP II will focus on four headings, namely: horizontal support to sector policy and reforms; regional structures and nets; and regional support to investments; and territorial cooperation. Each heading consists of sectors which include, among other things, role of law, public administration reform and economic management, transport, energy, environment, education, employment and social policies, joint regional investment projects, and development of border areas.

The Directorate for European Integrations is assigned to continue cooperation with competent BIH Institutions in the coordination process both within the preparation of IPA II Cross-Country Strategic Document until 2020 and use of Multi-Beneficiary IPA II in BIH, in compliance with dynamics of the process and EC guidelines.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on application of a Resolution on instruments for harmonisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislation with European Union acquis for April 6, 2013 - April 6, 2014.

All stakeholders, i.e. legal regulations initiators are responsible to secure Directorate for European Integrations expertise in the phase of development of legal regulations, which are to be subject of harmonisation with the EU acquis.

All stakeholders, i.e. legal regulations initiators, as well as heads of the administrative units, legally authorised to take by-laws, are obliged to submit for check and adjustment confirmation by the Directorate for European Integrations all regulations to be harmonised with the EU acquis, accompanied by orderly filled harmonisation instrument.

 

The Council of Ministers defined a Proposal Agreement between BIH and the European Union on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU Horizon 2020 Programme – Framework Research and Innovations Programme (2014-2020), and proposed BIH Ambassador in the EU Igor Davidović as the BIH signatory.

Accessing the Horizon 2020 Programme, BIH will be provided with an opportunity to fully participate in all horizontal and vertical Programme activities, including the Joint Research Centre and Researchers’ Mobility Programme. Also, a possibility is open of the use of EU Funds’ resources for scientific research activities, in addition to facilitating BIH researchers’ mobility. Total adopted Programme budget is nearly EUR 79.5 billion, and Programme is planned to last until December 31, 2020.

The annual contribution of BIH participation in the Programme would range between EUR 1.4 million (2014) to EUR 2 million (2020).

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of BIH and Directorate for European Integrations of BIH are responsible to include the Framework Horizon Programme 2020 entry ticket into the IPA II programme, as a priority item.

 

Upon a proposal of the Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency of BIH, the Council of Ministers adopted a Rulebook on Price of Travel Documents and Rulebook on Amendments and Supplements to the Rulebook on Price of Identification Documents, which enable free-of-charge replacement of lost ID documents for citizens from the flooded areas.

Temporarily release from payment for ID documents and travel documents will be in force for 45 days upon the Rulebook effectiveness.

According to the Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency of BIH, total estimated value of lost or damaged ID documents is KM 89.162.

 

The Council of Ministers adopted Information of the Ministry for Civil Affairs on a project of candidacy of necropolises with medieval tombstones for entry into the UNESCO’s list of world heritage.

Minister of Civil Affairs and President of the State Committee for Cooperation with UNESCO Sredoje Nović is responsible to submit the nomination file and management plan for nominated necropolises with tombstones to UNESCO Director-General Irina Borkova on the occasion of the SEE Ministers of Culture Meeting in Ohrid, on July 27-28, 2014.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Loan Agreement for Infrastructure Development in Goražde Project between the Saudi Fund for Development and Bosnia and Herzegovina worth USD 6,000,000.

The Loan funds are intended for the rehabilitation of secondary water supply pipeline in the area of the Municipality of Goražde, construction of a bridge over the Drina River in the community of Vitkovići, and for modernisation of local and non-categorised roads and town streets.

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

The Council of Ministers tasked the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to launch, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an initiative for conclusion of agreements on financial cooperation with states which lend their concessional funds through authorised financial institutions.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined  proposal basics for negotiations on conclusion of a Memorandum of Cooperation on Youth Issues between the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Schools, Science, Research and Sports of the Republic of Slovakia.

The purpose of the Memorandum is to improve overall bilateral relations, especially concerning the issues of youth, based on equality and mutual use, and to further development of relations between the youth-relevant institutions.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is to provide the Proposal Agreement to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and Minister Civil Affairs is proposed for the BIH signatory.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to the European Investment Bank to conclude an agreement with the Sberbank BH, Ltd, worth EUR 40 million for landing to SMEs or municipalities for rational energy use, infrastructure, industry, trade and services and environmental protection related projects in BIH.

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on Tariff Quotas for Agricultural Products.

The Decision prescribes criteria and ways of distribution of tariff quotas on import of certain products within approved customs-free quotas. The aim is to achieve a balanced annual distribution, to prevent quotas misuse, and to improve transparency and contribute to production and employment growth.

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on temporary suspension and reduction of custom tariffs for import of certain products until December 31, 2014.

The Decision covers 34 tariff items, and it affects at least 30,000 workers in footwear, metal, motor, and food and chemicals industries. The expected results are the creation of more competent products for both domestic and foreign markets and increase of export and employment.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in relation to conclusion of a Contract on seasonal jobs for BIH labour in the Republic of Croatia.

In regard to that, The BIH Agency for Labour and Employment is in charge to start, together with Entity and Brčko District employment bureaus, negotiations with the Croatian side with a view at a concrete adjustment of contracts on seasonal hiring of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s labour in the Republic of Croatia.

The BIH Agency for Labour and Employment Manger is authorised to sign the contract on seasonal hiring of BIH labour in the Republic of Croatia, upon its final agreement.

The Agency is obliged to inform the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the Contract signing and to report it to the Council of Ministers of BIH and other competent authorities.

The Agency is also obliged to notify sector Ministries on all eventual amendments of the text Contract for the purpose of implementation of required procedure.

 

The Council of Ministers considered and adopted Information on conclusion of a Protocol on mutual recognition and acceptance of documents issued by accredited laboratories for food and fodder between the Ministry of Trade and Economic Relations of BIH and Agency for Food and Veterinary Care of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is tasked to sign the Protocol, which would facilitate the trade in food and fodder of herbal and mixed origin, without limiting it, but rather keeping it within the appropriate human and animal health protection requirements.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted a Report of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on international assistance in agricultural sector, food safety and rural development in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013.

According to the Report, active members of the donor community in BIH in the sector included: USA/USAID; Sweden/SIDA; Italy/IC; Czech Republic; Japan/JICA; and Norway, while multilateral donors included: EU/EC; and FAO; with international creditors IFAD and World Bank.

The past donor support in the sector of agriculture targeted betterment of certain cultures, production technologies and producer support for entering both domestic and foreign markets. The donors mainly offered their support to the improvement of the institutional framework, marketing techniques and access to finances.

 

The Council of Ministries of BIH considered a Report of the Ministry of Communications and Transport on activities in connection to a dispute arising from the “International Bridge Svilaj on Corridor V c” Project.

The dispute arose after the developer, Starbag, A.G, form Austria, terminated the Contract, under justification of not being notified timely on the start of works, consequently claiming an indemnification.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport is authorised to continue its activities, in cooperation with the BIH Attorney’s Office, required for the continuation of the arbitration procedure.

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