Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 173rd Session Adopting 55 Items of Agenda

ADOPTED INFORMATION ON SITUATION WITH MIGRATIONS IN BIH 

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information on situation in the area of migrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning an increased inflow of migrants in BIH, which indicates that from January 1 to June 5, 2019, the Foreigners’ Affairs Service got registered 9,083 illegal migrants.

An intention to file for asylum was presented by 8,466 individuals, of which 196 applied for it.

The most migrants come from Pakistan (36%); Bangladesh (9.2%); Iraq (8.8%); Syria (8.7%); and Afghanistan (7.5%).In time period between May 27 and June 5, 2019, The Foreigners’ Affairs Service got registered 743 illegal migrants, while in the same period of time 673 individuals indicated their intention to apply for asylum and 51 of them applied for it.

 

MIGRATION PROFILE FOR 2018 ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, adopted the Ministry of Security-proposed Migration Profile of Bosnia and Herzegovina for year 2018, thus fulfilling one of obligations of BIH within the visa regime liberalisation process, and secures an insight into the key migration trends.

 

BIH – MONTENEGRO COOPERATION IN SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Proposal protocol between the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of Montenegro in search for missing persons, and proposed the Minister for Human Rights and refugees of BIH for the BIH signatory.

The Protocol regulates mutual relations, obligations and process in joint effort of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in searching for persons missed in the armed conflict in het area of ex-SFRY in time period between April 30, 1991 and February 14, 1996 in the territories of the Protocol signatory countries.

The countries-signatories will without delay exchange all available data and documentation relevant for solving the cases of missing persons, especially in connection with identifying the existence of burial sites, exhumation process and identification of the remains of missing persons.

Cooperation will be established for the facilitation and acceleration of handover and identification procedures, including for paper work and provision for costs for transport of the remains of missing persons.

 

NEGOTIATIONS ON DISPUTE SOLVING PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITHIN CEFTA

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for negotiations for conclusion of an Additional Protocol 7 on Dispute Solving under the Agreement on Amendment and Accession to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA 2006).

The Proposal Platform will be send for a further procedure to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations was proposed for the BIH signatory, i. e. the authorised BIH decision-maker at the Joint Committee meeting.

The aim of the Additional Protocol is both to improve the dispute-solving system between CFTA members and provision of better protection of legitimate trade interests of the member countries.

An obligation of adopting the Protocol was set forth under a Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP-REA), adopted at the July 12, 2017 Berlin Process Western Balkans Leaders meeting in Trieste.

 

BIH AND SERBIA INTENSIFY COOPERATION IN AREA OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office and National Academy for Public Administration of the Republic of Serbia.

The conclusion of the Memorandum will set-up a framework for sustainable and dynamic cooperation in the area of professional training in public administration, in compliance with national regulations of the two states.

The cooperation will, among other things, include the exchange of information, normative solutions, and implementation of joint professional up-grading programmes, as well as other relevant joint projects.

The Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office will send the proposal Memorandum to the BIH Presidency for further adoption procedure.

 

INITIATIVE ENDORSED FOR IBRD LOAN FOR ERAL ESTATE REGISTRATION PROJECT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative for negotiations on a Loan Agreement (Additional Financing of Real Estate Registration Project) between BIH and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

The aim of the Project is to provide support to development of a sustainable real estate registration system with harmonised land registry and cadastre in the urban areas of the Federation of BIH and Republika Srpska.

The IBRD Loan worth KM 39 million will be allocated to the Federation of BIH (KM 14 million) and Republika Srpska (KM 25 million), with the Loan terms and conditions as defined at the negotiations.

 

IMPROVEMENT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMNT AND RESPONSIBILITY SYSTEM

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, on defining a form and framework contents of a declaration on responsibility for the aim of realisation of the institution’s aims, intended to improve the financial management and responsibility system.

Adopting the decision, the Council of Ministers of BIH fulfils taken obligation under the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, Law on Financing of BIH Institutions, and Reform Agenda. The declaration on responsibility for realisation of institution’s aims implies a statement by which the institution’s manager confirms that in the course of a fiscal year he secured a purposeful and legal utilisation of funds approved under the institution’s budget for realisation of defined aims, in addition to economic, effective and efficient functioning of the financial management and control system in the given institution.

 

STATE ANNUAL CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAMME ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on adoption of a 2019 State Annual Consumer Protection Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It is a comprehensive document which designs the consumer protection policy, defines priorities, sets measures for the realisation thereof over the indicated time span, and identifies holders of the activities required for achieving the aims and tasks planned. The Programme represents a continuation of the process initiated by adoption of the 2009 State Programme, and is proposed each year with a basic aim of improving life quality of the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with insisting at the importance of health and consumer safety.

 

BIH TOBACCO INDUSTRY REGISTRY TO BE SET-UP

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, on supplementing administrative fee tariff, which sets-up the registry for tobacco industry, thus contributing to arrangement of this sector and supressing the black market.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country of the region having insufficient tobacco industry-related legislative for a long time, which gave way to expansion of big companies at domestic market, as well as flowering of illegal trade with tobacco and tobacco products.

The fee level ranges from KM 100 as high as the fee for exporter entry, to KM 150,000 for importer entry into the registry of tobacco products wholesale. The fee for entry into or deletion from relevant registry costs KM 100-3,000.

 

TRADEMARK PROTECTION FOR FOOD PRODUCTS IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Food Safety Agency, on authorised bodies for evaluation of harmonisation for products protected by mark of origin, geographical origin and guarantee of traditional speciality.

The Decision will enable domestic producers a smooth process of mark protection of food products from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Based on fulfilment requirements from the Regulation on Quality Systems for Food Products Article 42, the “Organic Control, Ltd., Sarajevo” is the authorised body to evaluate the harmonisation level.

A public call for registration of bodies for evaluation of harmonisation is permanently open at the Food Safety Agency web-site www.fsa.gov.ba .

Upon applying to the public call by one or more bodies for evaluation of harmonisation, and based on fulfilment of the regulation Article 42 requirements, the Agency will prepare the Decision supplement and provide it to the Council of Ministers.

Under the Decision, two Articles of the EU Directive concerning the quality systems for agriculture and food products were transposed.

 

BIH INCLUDED INTO SMART SPECIALISATION STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the process of Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), and endorsed a proposal for Bosnia and Herzegovina to get officially included into the Strategy development process.

The Smart specialisation is a part of the European Commission reformed cohesion policy, designed as a territorially founded approach based on identification of strategic areas of intervention and established at economy strengths and potentials analysis of a certain region, in order to separate merit and innovation-based priorities for financing to the end of strengthening the interaction of science, economy and government.

 

INFORMATION ON 2019 ANNUAL EBRD BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING HELD IN SARAJEVO

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of information by the Ministry of Foreign trade and Economic Relations on the EBRD Board of Governors 2019 Annual Meeting, held in Sarajevo.

Total registered were 2,637 participants, among them 743 representatives of business community, 597 delegated, 253 special guests from the world of business and 288 journalists.

The benefits of the meeting are relevant not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s image, relating to a concluded contract on further EBRD investment to construction of the Corridor V c, those covered also the business community and realised contacts during bilateral meetings, NGO sector, media partnerships, artists from BIH, hotels, catering facilities, taxi transporters and trades.

The promotion video clip of BIH – the host country of this year’s EBRD Governors meeting had almost 233k views, while more than 5.3 million feedback notes were registered at social networks used in the course of promotion campaign of this important event.

Thematic articles on the EBRD meeting and Power of Diversity had more than 1.4 posts on the Internet.

 

REALISATION OF EU PROCESS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ACTION PLAN

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information by the Directorate for European Integrations on realisation of the Council of Ministers of BIH Action Plan for implementation of the Communication Strategy for public awareness raising on the process of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union for 2018.

According to information, implemented were 90 of the planned 130 activities or 64 %, and the implementation of additional 10 or 7.19% activities is on-going, while two activities were partially implemented and 37 unimplemented.

 

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS 2018 ACTIVITY REPORT ADOPTED

 

A 2018 Activity Report of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, tabled by the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers, was adopted. It indicates that the European integrations, economic development, strengthening of rule of law, as well as the international cooperation were the focus of activities in the previous year.

Last year, 41 sessions were held, of which four extraordinary, at which total 1,026 items were considered, with prepared and completed 1,092 conclusions.

Nine proposal laws were defined and seven strategies and action plans, with adopted 285 information from various sectors.

Last year, the Council of Ministers took 284 resolutions and defined 52 proposal contracts, agreements, protocols and memoranda.

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on implementation of the 2017-1020 Public Finances Management reform Strategy in BIH Institutions, which calls for realisation of 59 activities within 18 measures and six pillars.

The implementation of the measures is for the end of improvement of the public finance system by 2020 in order to secure better functionality, transparency, accountancy and effectiveness in managing public resources, thus increasing macroeconomic stability in BIH.

Out of the planned 31 activities in 2017 and 2018, fully implemented were eight of them, and the implementation of 11 activities was covered by IPA projects, the implementation of which is up-coming. The rest of 12 activities are at the high level of implementation, and the finalisation thereof is expected to take place this year.

The realisation of the remainder of activities is planned for 2019 and 2020.

 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN BIH 2018 REPORT ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report by the Ministry of Security on the situation in the area of human trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2018.

According to data collected from prosecutorial offices, law enforcement services, social work centres and NGOs, identified were 36 potential human trafficking victims subjected to various forms of exploitation last year; 12 of them were used for begging, nine were sexually exploited, six were used for sales for forcible marriage, while each labour exploitation, sexual intercourse with under aged person and an indecent act were suffered by one, and in six cases one of other forms of exploitation was registered.

Among potential human trafficking victims there were 12 adults and 24 under aged persons. Simultaneously, 21 of victims were female and 15 were male gender. From Bosnia and Herzegovina there were 28 victims, while eight were foreign citizens.

The prosecutorial offices took 41 orders on investigation against 79 individuals and brought 26 charges against 37 persons, while courts proclaimed 48 convicting judgments against the same number of persons for criminal deeds of human trafficking and connected criminal acts.

The responsible institutions in BIH and civil society organisations, in cooperation with international agencies and partner countries have realised 63 out of 80 activities planned under the 2016-2019 Anti-Human Trafficking Action Plan, 12 activities were partially implemented, while the implementation has not begun over the reported period for five activities.

 

IMPROVED FULFILMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM GOALS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a progress report by the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office (Public Administration Reform Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina Revised Action Plan 1 implementation monitoring) for January-December 2018.

In 2018, totally implemented were 75% goals from the revised Action Plan 1, or 3% more in relation to 2017, when a a72% progress rate was made. Viewed broadly, in the implementation of RAP 1 goals, the major implementation rate, 82 per cent, was made a t the level of Republika Srpska, followed by the State level, marking 75% progress rate, Federation of BIH with 71% progress rate and the Brčko District of BIH with 70% RAP 1 goals fulfilled.

The major jump in the goals fulfilment in 2018 was made in the area of human resources management and administrative procedures and administrative services.

 

EXPORT OF 39% AGROVULTURAL-FOOD PRODUCTS TO EU

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Analysis of trade exchange of agricultural-food products for 2014-2018, and charged the Ministry of Foreign trade and Econ0omic Relations to continue monitoring the situations in the area and to report it to the Council of Ministers of BIH once a year.

According to information, the export of agricultural-food products over the previous years through 2018 had positive trends and steady increases, while the value of the imports was slightly lowering. However, the deficit remained very high, still not less than KM 2 billion. In 2018, total export was KM 828 million, and import was KM 3 billion.

In total foreign exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina with abroad in 2018, the import of agricultural-food products accounted for 16%, while the share of export of agricultural-food products in total export was 7% only.

The most represented products in export are fats, oils, fruits, milk and dairy products, sugar and sugar products, and corps and cereals and flour-based products, including mill industry products and meat.

The European Union is still our most important partner, to which we export 39% of the agricultural-food products, followed by CEFTA countries to which we export 35% of products, and Turkey with about 18 % and the rest of the world 6” and EFTA 2% of products.

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