Council of Ministers of BIH Holds its 112th Session

Security Situation in 2016 Satisfactory 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Security on the security status in BIH in 2016, which was assessed as satisfactory.

The total number of registered criminal acts in BIH in 2016 was 29,179, less for 6, 33 per cent in relation to the year before, or 15. 932 per cent less relative to year 2014, which points at basic security in BIH got stabilised, despite a number of security challenges and risks.

In the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska, the percentage of resolved cases was 77.8 per cent (in 29015 it was 74.8 per cent), while ion the Federal Police Administration it was 60 per cent, same as in 2015.

Information points that no terrorist attacks took place last year, contrary to 2015, there three terrorist attacks happened.

In the area of border security in 2016, total 3.285 crossings or attempted crossings of the state border was registered by individuals from warrant data bases on various grounds. The number of registered crossings in 2015 was higher for 9.7 per cent, and number of individuals higher for 14.25 per cent, indicated the 2016 Security Status Information.

Total 218 individuals were found in illegal crossings of the state border in 2016, or 21.79 per cent more than the year before. Total 2.243 foreigners were not allowed to enter BIH, which is 7.77 per cent less than in 2015.

As to internal challenges, the issue of security at regional and global level was emphasised, primarily in the area of fight against terrorism. Terrorist attacks might be expected anywhere, connected with evident high indoctrination of terrorists ad their organisation via social networks.

The conclusion was that in the first stage of solving he refugee crisis, the main problem was eh refugee accommodation, and after attacks throughout Europe, the focus on the border security.

Information said that a special priority of the law enforcement agencies in the period to come will be directed at fight against economic crime and corruption, topical problems concerning suspicious crediting of some private companies for their tax debts, as well as money laundering through “investments” and possession of illegally earned property.

 

Carrying Out Rights of BIH Foreign Currency Deposit Savers in Serbia-Based Banks

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on procedure for issuing a certificate for defining the right to payment of hard currency deposit savings, in accordance with the Law on Regulation of Public Debt of Republika Srpska, based on unpaid citizens’ hard currency deposit savings with banks having main office in the territory of the Republic of Serbia or their branches in territories of ex-SFRY Republics.

The decision designated bodies and institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Entities and the Brčko District to issue certificates of non-exercised hard currency deposit savings holder to recovery od hard deposit savings to BIH, or of not recognised right by any level of authority in BIH, based on deposit savings with branches of the Investbank jsc. Belgrade and Yugoslav Export and credit Bank jsc. Belgrade (JIK Bank) in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Harmonisation of Special Additions to Salary

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Ministry of Defence, on Amendments and Supplements to Decision on special additions to salary for carrier military staff in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By forming the BIH Armed Forces Centre for Mine Action and Destruction of Explosive Devices, some formation positions were annulled with simultaneous setting-up new ones, not referred to in the existing Decision in terms of defining the right to demining addition. Therefore, it turned necessary to amend and supplement the existing decision, so that the staff dealing with demining assignments might carry out their right to demining addition to salary.

Resources for the implementation of the Decision on Amendments and Supplements to Decision on special additions to salary for carrier military staff in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are planned in the Budget of the Ministry of Defence of BIH, which the Amendments make only a partial decrease of needed funds.

 

Solving Cross-Border and Cross-Border Adjacent Areas Issues

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Security on the current problems and outstanding issues from the cross-border and surrounding areas close to the Republic of Serbia, Montenegro and Republic of Croatia.

The Border Police of BIH, in cooperation with the Ministry of Security will  provide KM 40,000 for the implementation of the Blocking Roads Suitable for Illegal Border-Crossing between BIH and the Republic of Serbia by Motor Vehicles Project“. The issue has been already regulated with Montenegro and the Republic of Croatia.

The Ministry of Security should cooperate with the Ministry of Civil Affairs in order to intensify activities on amendments and supplements of border-crossings contracts with the Republic of Serbia and Republic of Croatia.

 

Sub-Committee for Internal Market and Competition Meets in Mostar

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information on holding the second meeting of the Sub-Committee of Internal Market and Competition, including Health Protection and customer Protection, to be held on September 19, 2017 in Mostar. A proposal agenda, provided by the European Commission, was adopted, along with a Discussion Paper.

The Council of Ministers of BIH agreed to the BI delegation composition, which has more than 50 members from all authority levels. The Directorate for European Integrations is tasked to cooperate with competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to take all prearrangements of the second meeting of the Sub-Committee for Internal Market and competition including health and consumer protection. The Directorate for European Integrations will translate the Discussion Paper into English language and provide it to the European Commission within deadline set.

 

Grant Funds to BIH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on criteria for providing grant funds to the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2017 in amount of KM 380,000.00

Total planned grant funds to NGOs involved to human trafficking victim protection is KM 60,000, for support to association of disabled persons KM 40,000, and for support to national minority associations 150,000. Grant funds to associations of families of missing persons in BIH will amount KM 80,000, while grant funds to human rights organisation  for the purpose of human rights promotion in BIH will be KM 50,000, as budgeted in the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.

The grant funds will be awarded by way of public call, to be issued by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees at its web page and in three daily papers distributed throughout BIH.

 

KM 385.000 for Domestic Production Promotion

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on the selection of fairs and other events in country and amount of awarded grant funds for the purpose of promotion of domestic production in 2017.

Under the decisions, from the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations 385,000 were provided to support organisers of 21 fairs and other events in the country in 2017.

 

Harmonisation of BIH Legislation with the EU Acquis

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Directorate of European Integrations on application of a Decision on the Procedure for Harmonisation Process of Legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European Union Acquis during October 15, 2016-June 30, 2016.

The Decision on the process of harmonisation of BIH Legislation with the EU acquis provides for an obligation of administration bodies and their managers, authorised to adopt regulations, to provide drafts and proposal regulations, to be harmonised with the EU acquis, to the Directorate for European Integrations for a check together with related harmonisation tools. The Directorate monitors the application of the Decision and repots it to the Council of Ministers of BIH, and proposes measures to improve implementation thereof.

Based on a review of the issued regulations over the reported period, the Directorate identified 14 regulations took by administrative bodies, that were adopted without prior obtaining required harmonisation related opinion.

The Council of Ministers tasked Ministries and other BIH Institutions and their managers responsible for regulation taking to report to the Directorate for European integrations on activities undertaken for preparation and drafting of regulations to be harmonised with the EU acquis and other documents relevant for BIH integrations to the European Union.

 

Analysis of BIH Foreign Exchange for first Half of 2017

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an analysis of Foreign Exchange of BIH for January-June 2017, prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations

Goods exchanged in the reported period of time was worth KM 13.83 billion, which is more for KM 1.59 billion or 12,98 per cent compared to the same period 2016. The total export was KM 5.21 billion, as increased for 15.43 per cent. During the same  time period  the imported goods was KM 8.61 billion, or 1.55 per cent more than in the same time period 2016. The coverage of import by export was 60.48 per cent. Trade deficit was KM 3.40 billion or 6.10 per cent more than in the same period last year

The European is still the main foreign trade partner to Bosnia and Herzegovina, so that in the total volume of goods exchange it participates with 65.21 per cent, followed by CEFTA 2006 countries, while other countries participate with 27.18 per cent.

The export to the EU accounts for 72.39 per cent of total BIH export, and import from the EU countries makes 60.87 of BIH import.

Out of main trade partners, the major coverage f import by export is made with Austria (145.18%), Slovenia (104.44%), Netherlands (103.4 %), German (76.88 %), and Croatia (72.55 %).

 

Growth Tend of Economic Activity in BIH Continues

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Directorate for Economic Planning on macroeconomic trends for January-June 2017, which indicates that the growth trend of economic activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina continues.

In the first half of this year, the industrial production grew for 2.1 per cent, which was accompanied by the higher number of employees in the sector. The most notable contribution to raise of the industrial production was made in the area of mining and processing industries. The major contribution was made in export of electric power, export of aluminium, secondary raw materials, electric equipment, mill and chemical products and cox. The number of employees was increased and in May it was 756.4 thousand, and the major growth made in the service sector, processing industry and wholesale and small trade.

The average net salary in BIH in May was KM 860 and is higher for 2.7 per cent relative to the same time period last year.

 

BIH-China Cooperation in Organising Seminars and Forums

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defi8ned a Proposal Memorandum of Understanding on planning of promotion of think-tank cooperation between the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Information Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.

The Memorandum defines the establishment of appropriate mechanisms of cooperation and regular business contacts between think tanks of the two states. Think tanks of the two states will be incited to organise forums, seminars and round tables. The cooperation implies mutual visits and communication, exchange of experiences and positions on issues of joint interest and expert consultations between think tanks of the two states. Also, it opens a possibility for cooperation for promotion of joint research projects and publication of academic achievements.

 

Extension of Temporary Stay for Humanitarian Reasons

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Security on realisation of a decision on defining justifiable reasons of humanitarian nature for extension of temporary stay permits to citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic, which took effect on December 17, 2016 and is valid one year.

The Foreigners’ Affairs Service has received six requests by Syrian citizens for the extension of their temporary stay permits, granted for humanitarian reasons, and their requests are in the process of solving.

The Ministry of Security should prepare a new decision on defining justifiable reasons of humanitarian nature for extension of temporary stay permits to citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic for one year period of time.

 

Good Cooperation of Child Council with NGOs

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Child Council of BIH Work Report and implementation of the related 2016 Child Action Plan.

The Report suggests that Bosnia and Herzegovina got its representative in an Ad Hoc Committee for Rights of Child under the Council of Europe, and that the Child Council has made a good cooperation with the NGO sector and academic community, as well as with international organisations dealing with promotion and child rights protection, like UNICEF.

In addition, a good cooperation was made with the save the Children Organisation, advocating the introduction of a programmatic budgeting for children, in order to arrange funds spending according to priority needs of children. An of the Banjaluka-based New Generation Association’s initiative was supported on putting into operation free calls within the “blue phone” telephone advice line.

The Child Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked to post tis Report to eth Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees web site, so as to make it available to public in general.

 

Donation of Computer Equipment to BIH Police Agencies

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Security, on granting of the written off legal intercepting and monitoring of telecommunications system  equipment  to police agencies in BIH, in support to their work.

Due to the legal intercepting and monitoring system up-grading in October 2016, a part of equipment of the previous system was put out of function and written off under Minister’s decision, after parts of equipment that might contain data were duly destroyed.

So, under the Decision, 42 computers will be granted to the Ministries of Interior of Republika, Srpska, Central Bosnia, Posavina, Hercegovačko-Neretvanski Canton and  Canton 10, as well the Brčko District Police. The Ministry of Security of BIH will conclude separate grant contracts with beneficiary institutions.

 

Purchase of Buildings in Mostar and East Sarajevo

 

Upon a proposal of the General Service Affairs of the BIH Institutions, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to approve purchase/procurement of buildings needed for accommodation off Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions in Mostar and East Sarajevo.

Approved was the purchase of building for accommodation of the State Agency for Investigation and Protection in Mostar, of purchase value of KM 4,000,000.00. Funding of the purchase will be secured in amount of KM 1,000,000.00 from the budget of the General Affairs service of BIH institutions, which was left over from the amount approved for purchase of a building  in Mostar for accommodation of the Intelligence-Security agency of BIH; KM 2,000,000.00 were approved to the State Investigations and Protection Agency of BIH for the purchase f building, but were allocated to the General Affairs service for the reason of completing the funds needed for the realisation of the Decision, and KM 1,000,000.00 re succession funds, from clearing  debt collected from the Russian Federation.

Also approved was the purchase of building for accommodation of BIH Institutions in East Sarajevo, of total size 1,300 to 1,500 m² of purchase value of KM 3,000,000.00.

Funding of this purchase will be made in time between 2017 and 2019 under the multi-year investment programme registered in the General Affairs Service budget in amount of KM1,000,000.00 for 2017 as the Russian Federation clearing debt collection, based on succession, and KM 1,000,000.00 for 2018 and 2019 each from the BIH Institutions budget.

 

Request for Kulin Ban Charter Public Presentation

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Ministry of Civil Affairs to start activities, in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice in order to arrange with the Russian Federation for the historic document Kulin Bank Charter to be temporary exhibited in BIH.

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