Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 117th Session

BENEFIT FOR SMALL ENTREPRENEURS IN BIH 

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU Programme “Competitiveness of SMEs (COSME 20114-2020)”.

The major benefit from the COSME Programme in BIH will be to both entrepreneurs in small and medium sized enterprises - though facilitated access to development and consolidation funds - and citizens aspiring to launch their own business, among them the young and women, at first place, who face challenges in setting-up their own business.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

KM 11,900,000.00 FOR IMPROVEMENT OF POSOTION OF ROMA POPULATION IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees on spending of a KM three million grant for realisation of an Action Plan of BIH for solving the issues of the Roma population in relation to employment, housing and health care in BIH for year 2013.

So, in 2013, total KM 2,000,000.00 were spent for their housing, KM 710,000.00 for employment, KM 210,000,000.00 for health care, and KM 30,000.00 for needs data-base up-dating for the Roma population.

In time period from 2009 to 2013, total 11,900,000.00 has been allocated at state level for the purpose of improvement of position of the Roma population in BIH, out of which KM eight million KM were provided for their housing needs.

 

TOURISM IN HERZEGOVINA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on implementation of JICA Project “International Tourist Corridor through Herzegovina and Environmental Protection” for 2014.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH will cooperate with competent Entity Ministries for realisation of planned project activities aimed at development of touristic sector in Herzegovina.

The report indicates that a “Tourist Cluster of Herzegovina” was organised within the Project, with a prospect of arranging Herzegovina regional link centres (RPC) in Trebinje, Ljubinje, and Buna. Events, like “New Vine” in Trebinje and Čitluk are organised annually, while intensive activities are ongoing on development of tourist products and establishment of a data-base. The project plans include a film on Herzegovina.

 

INCRASED EMPLOYMENT IN BIH, DEFLATION AND DEPOSIT SAVINGS GROWTH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a report of the Directorate for Economic Planning of BIH on macroeconomic trends for January-October 2014, which suggests that trends in BIH economy in ten months of 2014 were more positive than in same period a year before (although slowed down due to the floods).

However, rightly against the background of modest economic growth in neighbourhood, adverse weather conditions that affected BIH and the neighbourhood countries, slight increase of industrial production in BIH and deflation in BIH, appropriate measures and activities need to be taken to improve the economic situation in BIH, reads the report, while the Council of Ministers is ready to undertake all required measures and activities within its competences to promote and attract investments and support exports and employment, in order to boost the BIH economy.

According to the report, the most important events that affected the economic growth were modest and ever weaker growth in the neighbourhood, gradual increase of employment in BIH, poor weather conditions in the first half of the year, which culminated in May floods, fall in power generation, fall in exports, and even more serious fall of import prices, which caused deflation.

Goss foreign currency reserves for nine months of 2014 were KM 7.6 billion, and in relation to same period a year before, they represent a 11.2 per cent increase. Total deposits for ten months of 2014 were KM 15.2 billion, and are higher for 8 per cent, compared to the same period a year before.

 

ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF “ZORNIC” AND “SEJDIĆ-FINCI” RULINGS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Office of the Council of Ministers’ Agent before the European Court for Human Rights on case “Azra Zornić vs Bosnia and Herzegovina” and on commitment of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take an action plan for implementation of rulings in cases “Azra Zornić vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “Sejdić-Finci vs Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

The Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked to prepare, within 30 days from the adoption of the report, an action plan for realisation of rulings in cases “Azra Zornić vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina” and “Sejdić-Finci vs Bosnia and Herzegovina” and provide it to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for adoption.

 

TO CREATE BETTER CONDITIONS FOR CHILDREN

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an analysis on implementation of Action Plan for Children in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011-2014.

The development of such Action Plan is intended for creation of more favourable conditions for life of children and families, their psychical and physical development, inclusion to society and participation in decision-making, in the best interest of children. Out of total identified 97 measures for implementation of the Action Plan priority goals, totally implemented were 23 measures, 23 were implemented almost fully, while 40 measures were partially implemented, and 11 remained unimplemented.

Taking care of child’s best interest, the Council of Children of Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked to consider all circumstances for failure to implement the measures indicated in the report, to include them in the Action Plan for children in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015-2018 or make them a part of other related measures.

 

TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AT SPORTS GROUNDS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a report of the Ministry of Security on a workshop titled “A Comprehensive and Expert Analysis of Current Development in Prevention of Violence at Sports Grounds in BIH”, held in Sarajevo on November 17-18, 2014. The Ministry of Security is tasked to continue with tis activities towards the improvement of the situation in this area.

The aim is to intensify cooperation among competent institutions, prosecutor offices and courts for more effective action in prevention of riots at sports competitions and to improve regional cooperation in the area.

The workshop recommends harmonisation of relevant legislation with the European regulations and practice and joining the network of national contact points for exchange of information in relation to soccer competitions (NFIP).

(end    )