Press Releases
Council of Ministers Holds Its 88th Session
03/18/2014
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took separate decisions as follows: under criteria for allocation of current grant funds for co-financing of sports events for 2014: on criteria for co-financing of cultural institutions projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2014; on criteria for co-financing of international cultural exchange projects for 2014; on criteria for co-financing of projects in support to technical culture and innovations in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2014; on criteria for allocation of grant funds under the preparation of projects and potential candidates programme for financing under 2014 EU-EP7 Fund.
The Olympic and Paralympic Committee of BIH, sports associations and sports associations of disabled persons at BIH and Entity levels, and sports clubs in BIH have right to funds allocation from KM 560,000.00 worth grant, subject to public competition and the Decision on Criteria for Funds Allocation from the Current Grant “Co-financing of sports events.” Applicants may apply for co-financing sports events programmes in this year for an amount of KM 2,000.00-60,000.00.
Besides, the grant secures additional KM 15,000.00 for allocation of the BIH State Sports Award, and KM 10,000 for the Selection of Sportsman of the Year, to be organised by the Radio-TV Bosnia and Herzegovina and “Nezavisne Novine” daily paper.
The Decision on Criteria for Co-Financing of Cultural Institutions Projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2014, planned funds in amount of KM 1,350,000.00, which will be allocated for co-financing of cultural projects by way of a public competition, and subject to the Decision criteria. All non-profit cultural institutions in BIH are eligible to apply.
The amount of KM 27,000.00 was allocated for co-financing of international cultural cooperation projects in 2014, A public competition is open for projects promoting cultural creations in Bosnia and Herzegovina at international plan.
Funds in amount of M 72,000 of the Ministry of Civil Affairs Budget funds will be allocated by way of public competition for project financing in the area of innovations and technical culture, subject to criteria defined in the Decision on Co-Financing of Support to Technical Culture and Innovations Projects for 2014.
The grant programmes for preparation of projects and potential candidates for financing under the 2014 EU –EP7 Fund provides for total KM 273,000.00, out of which KM 223,000.00 will be allocated to projects by way of public competition, and KM 50,000.00 will be approved to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for the preparation activities for participation at the EU Science and Research Programme HORISON 2020.
PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF EU WORK GROUPS REJECTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and rejected a Proposal Decision on supplements to the Decision on establishment of European integrations work groups. The Proposal Decision provided for participation of cantonal representatives, in line with constitutional competences and responsibilities.
SET OF RULEBOOKS AIMING SAVINGS OF OVER KM 27 MILLION FROM BUDGET
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a set of rulebooks, aimed at a systematic regulation to result of budgetary savings of up to KM 27 million at annual level in terms of procurement and use of official vehicles in the BIH Institutions, official telephones and entertainment costs.
The Rulebook on procurement and use of official vehicles in the BIH Institutions avoids the past fashion of differing and arbitrary of vehicle procurement. The Rulebook decrease the car pool for about 100 vehicles used in the BIH Institutions, which expected to provide for KM 900,000.00 annual savings.
The Rulebook on use of official telephones will allow savings in the BIH Institutions Budget for about KM 700,000.00. The Rulebook limits both the number of employees and civil servants using the official mobile phones and maximum amount for use of fixed telephone lines in the BIH Institutions.
The Rulebook on use of entertainment provisions decreased the annual entertainment costs limit by KM 1,104,572.00 for all Institutions; however the Rulebook does not apply to the Parliamentarian Assembly.
Since the Rulebooks implementation requires adoption of internal rulebooks by institutions individually, their application starts on January 1, next year.
IPAP ADOPTION CONFIRMS PARTNERSHIP RELATION WITH NATO
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted 2014-2016 Bosnia and Herzegovina – NATO Individual Partner Action Plan (IPAP), which is one of the most important mechanisms of partnership relations with NATO in the reform implementation process targeting fulfilment of conditions for BIH accession to NATO.
The Action Plan is a comprehensive set of measures covering all important areas of social life, organised in four chapters: policy and security; defence and military issues; public diplomacy, science, environmental protection, crisis management, and emergency situations response; and administrative and security resource protection issues.
This is the third biannual BIH-NATO cooperation plan through IPAP, and all institutions represented in the NATO Integration Process Committee gave their contribution in its NATO-supported preparation.
BIH joined IPAP in 2007, while the existing form of cooperation as launched in 2008.
TO ACCELERATE INTER-STATE RIVER SAVA BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Communications and Transport on activities on implementation of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Croatia on construction of the inter-state bridge over the River Sava and connecting border sections of Corridor V c near Svilaj.
The Council expressed its concern over the slowness in selection of developer of the bridge construction exercise, due to failure of the involved Banks (EBRD and EIB) to grant consent to a proposal of the Committee for Developer Selection. Their consent is necessary since the Banks finance the Croatian share of the project.
The Council called upon the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia to undertake additional efforts towards obtaining Banks’ grant to the developer selection proposal, thus enabling the project implementation to proceed in accordance with the Inter-State Agreement.
Under the Agreement, BIH and Croatia are to share the costs of bridge construction and river bed rehabilitation in equal portions, i.e. 50 % each. BIH has earlier secured the funds from its own resources.
MODERNISATION AND POWER NETWORK EXENSION AGREEMETS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Contract on Financing between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for Electric Power Distribution in BIH/B, with a view at the modernisation and electric power distribution network extension of the Power Utility of Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia.
The project includes procurement of modern measuring equipment and development and reconstruction of sub-stations and networks.
The EIB loan is EUR 20 million worth EIB loan is allocated to the Federation of BIH, and has with 25 year term, including 4 year grace period. The total project cost is EUR 40 million, and the remainder of EUR 20 million will be secured from the Public Enterprise Power Utility of Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia own resources.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Contract with basics for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency, with a proposal for Minister Nikola Špirić as the BIH signatory.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Contract on Financing between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for Electric Power Distribution in BIH/C, with a view at the modernisation and electric power distribution network extension of the Power Utility of BIH.
The project is intended to secure better stability of power supply, meet the increased demand and improve the service-provision quality with decrease of losses
The EIB loan is EUR 15 million worth EIB loan is allocated to the Federation of BIH, and has with 25 year term, including 4 year grace period. The Power Utility of BIH will secure EUR 15 million from its own resources, as the total project cost is EUR 30 million.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Contract with basics for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency, with a proposal for Minister Nikola Špirić as the BIH signatory.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Finance Agreement (Energy Efficacy Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Development Association for the implementation of the project aimed to increase energy efficacy in public sector facilities.
The concessional IDA terms of 25 year loan term and 5 year grace period will be applied to this USD 32 million worth loan, to be allocated to the Federation of BIH in amount of USD 19.2 million and to Republika Srpska in amount of USD 12.8 million.
PROTECTION AND RESCUE PLAN IN NATURAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers took a decision to adopt a Protection and Rescue Plan from Natural and Industrial Disasters of the BIH Institutions and Other Bodies, which represents a framework for preparation, organisation and implementation of protection and rescue of people and material goods of institutions and bodies of BIH in case of natural and industrial disasters.
The Plan is intended to harmonise related BIH institution’ efforts and promote joint actions with the Entities and Brčko District, NGO and private sector, as well as with international institutions and organisation in BIH and abroad.
The Plan clearly sets all shareholders’ responsibilities and roles in the system of protection and rescue, it avoids activities overleaping, and secures an optimal use of the existing resources for effective natural and industrial disaster management.
According to the Plan, it is the Council of Ministers of BIH that declares and abolishes the state of natural or industrial disasters at the state level, upon a proposal of a Coordination Body of BIH for Protection and Rescue or upon a request of competent Entity or Brčko District institutions already declaring the state of emergency.
BIH PRESIDES THE DECATE FO ROMA POPULATION, AS AT JULY 1
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Rights and Refugees on activities concerning the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015.
The Council endorsed the text Declaration on continuation of the Roma Decade, aligned with the European Union Strategy “Europa 2020”, and tasked Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Damir Ljubić to sign it for the continuation of efforts towards a faster social inclusion of the Roma population.
In consideration of significant results BIH made in solving Roma issues, the Decade member-countries decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina should preside over the Decade from July 1, 2014 to June 3o, 2015.
Annually, Bosnia and Herzegovina sets aside KM three million for the improvement of Roma population social inclusion, including for housing and securing better living conditions, allocation of small grants for employment, improvement of heath care and education, which all will be continued in coming years.
CoM ON EMPLOYING BH CITIZENS ABROAD
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Employment Agency on implementation of an understanding on mediation in employing labour force from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Federal Republic of Germany to definite term in 2013.
The Council authorised the Agency to initiate talks to conclude agreements on mediation in employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens for occupations other than those from the White List of scarce occupations in the FR Germany. It is about 54 occupations, mainly from the area of machinery, electro-technics, electronics and medicine. Thus far, two calls were announced in BIH for health care workers in the FR Germany, facilitating hiring of 12 persons after the first, and 192 persons got positive response after the second call, while the procedure is still ongoing for 125 candidates.
MORE THAN MILLION RETURNEES IN BIH
The Council of Ministers adopted a Report from the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on implementation of a Revised Strategy of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Dayton Agreement Annex VII Implementation, which notes registered over one million of returnees to BIH, out of which almost a half are minority returnees.
Out of total 1,050,000 registered returns, about 6000,000 or 67% account for internally displaced persons, while the remaining 450,000 or 43% account for refugees.
The pre-war owners or holders of occupancy rights recovered 220,000 housing units, which represents a 99.9 per cent property laws implementation rate. Over 330 residential units were constructed or reconstructed.
The past decade, when this competence was transferred to the BIH authorities, over one billion KM was invested into the return sector, out of which KM 620,000 million was invested in residential facilities reconstruction, and KM 500 was invested in complementary sustainability measures. Ever increasing domestic budget allocations exceed international funding, as proven by a 80 per cent share of domestic institutions and 20 per cent share of foreign donors.
Estimates suggest that about KM 1.2 billion needs to be secured for finding permanent accommodation solutions for about 41,000 households, i.e. 160,000 refugees and displaced persons.
“FOREST FIRE EXTINGUISHING IN BIH” STUDY ADOPTED
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a “Forest Fire Extinguishing in BIH” Study, which includes a set of measures needed to take in order to improve the state of affairs in the sector.
The Council of Ministers of BIH expressed its readiness to proceed jointly with the Entity and Brčko District Governments in procurement activities with producers-suppliers of anti-fire aircrafts, equipment and materials, which would be owned and managed by the Entities.
The Ministry of Security will distribute the document to those institutions and organisations which took part in its development.
This comprehensive Study analyses the state of affairs in the area of firefighting and fire protection in the Entities and Brčko District of BIH, with proposed measures against forest fires and envisaged role of the Ministry of Security, which is expected to increase its capabilities in firefighting by procuring new Mi8 helicopters.
According to the Study, the optimal aircraft for forest fire extinguishing in BIH is ‘tractor AT-802 fire boss’, of increased engine power of 1,193 KW version, and minimum requirement is four such aircrafts for percussive action. The Mostar airport is the best location for keeping the firefighting air force, since it is the middle grounds between nigh and low Herzegovina area, the most exposed to summer season fires, in addition to having needed infrastructure and capacities for accommodation of firefighting forces.
INDEPENDENT SYSTEM OPERATOR STEERING COMMITEE MEMBERS APPOINTED
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign trade and Economic relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Željko Slijepčević and Miro Klepić for members of the BIH Independent System Operator Steering Committee from Republika Srpska (RS).
RIVER DRINA FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT ENDORSED
The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted an initiative and designated a delegation for negotiations on a Finance Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Development Association for the Drina River Flood Protection Project, worth USD 24 million.
The Project includes enhancement of flood protection in the areas of Bijeljina and Goražde, with loan funds allocated to Republika Srpska in proportion of 57.5 and to the Federation of BIH in proportion of 42.5 per cent.
The loan term is 25 years, with five year grace period and concessional IDA terms and conditions.
TO ENALBE PLACEMENT OF BIH PRODUCTS TO KOSOVO MARKET
The Council of Ministers of BIH noted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on a need to amend veterinary-health certificate for milk and dairy products exports from BIH to Kosovo and Metohija market.
The Veterinary Office of BIH is tasked to immediately start the terminology harmonisation of veterinary-health certificate necessary for milk and dairy products export to Kosovo market, so instead of term ‘Kosovo and Metohija’, only the term ‘Kosovo’ will be applied.
This conclusion is adopted by the Council for the reason of enabling further placement of milk and dairy products from BIH to Kosovo market, considering the fact that BIH has not recognised Kosovo as an independent state.
CoM OF BIH REALSIED 77 PER CENT OF CONCLUSIONS
Upon a proposal of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers of BIH, the Council of Ministers of BIH considered a Review of Realisation of the Council of Ministers of BIH conclusions for January 1 - December 31, 2013, which indicates that out of total 224 conclusions, 173 or 77% were realised, while 51 conclusions remained unrealised.
Ministries and other institutions not fully implementing the Council of Ministers conclusions are tasked to implement them without further delay and to further their activities if conclusions implementation requires longer time or cooperation with other institutions.
It was concluded that the realisation of conclusions of the Council of Ministers of BIH should be a priority task for all Ministries and other institutions.
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