Council of Ministers of BIH Holds its 50th Session

The Council of Ministers of BIH, at today’s session in Sarajevo, defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements of the Law on Public Procurement for the purpose of improvement of efficacy of public procurement procedure. 

In order to improve the operations of the Appellation Office, two branch offices in Banja Luka and in Mostar, respectively, are to be opened. This will promote the efficacy of operations of contracting bodies, which, due to inefficacy of the Appellation Office, were unable to select deliverer and spend budgeted funds within a fiscal year, which caused consequent delay in project implementation for several years.

The collection of appellation fees in amounts more appropriate to procurement values and which will be higher than the ones currently applicable will decrease the number of unfounded claims and simultaneously expedite processing of justified claims, while the charges refund will protect the applicants filling justifiable claims.

The introduction of such charges in neighbouring countries contributed to a more efficient and expedite public procurement procedures, faster realisation of planned investments, improved deliverers’ diligence, and consequently to overall economic development.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will send the Proposal Law to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for consideration under urgent legislative procedure.

The Council of Ministers of BIH committed to continue talks with representatives of the European Commission in order to arrive at a comprehensive solution to further improve the situation in this area.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a BIH Budget Execution Report for 2012, which the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide to the Presidency of BIH and Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

According to the Report, total realised revenues and receivables, form which the BIH Institutions are funded, amount KM 963,919,266, and expenditures amount KM 890,299,753 or 93.7% of adopted budget, i.e. 82% in relation to revised budget.

Total expenditures of BIH Institutions are lower for KM 12.2 million relative to last year, which is the result of savings made over the past period.

In the period from January 1 – December 31, 2012, Bosnia and Herzegovina repaid KM 413.31 million of foreign debt obligations.

The Council of Ministers of BIH was informed of the Annual consolidated Report of Internal Audit for 2012, which points at evident substantial improvement in establishment and development of internal audit system, reflected in the adoption of regulations completing the internal audit system, including in the execution of the internal audit function in the BIH Institutions.

In the course of 2012, the internal audit produced total 52 internal audit reports.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to allocate KM 455,500.00 to the Identification Documents, Data Exchange and Evidence Agency (IDDEEA) of Bosnia and Herzegovina form the current budget reserves for the procurement of hardware and software equipment and cross-border passes.

Ministers endorsement of the preliminary design of IDDEEA cross-border documents to be issued with the Republic of Croatia - which will have incorporated an electronic element and will be prepared in thee language variants - repeals an earlier conclusion supporting a temporary solution for cross-border passes issuance.

The IDDEEA will ensure that the issuance of cross-border passes starts within 70 days.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Memorandum of Understanding for a Saudi Grant for Construction and Furbishing of University Library in Sarajevo between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and Minister Nikola Špirić is proposed as the BIH signatory of it.

The aim of the project is to promote university education and provide for students’ needs for different text books by way of construction and furbishing of the University Library in Sarajevo. The grant value is SAR 82.5 million, which is equivalent approximately EUR 16.9 million.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the People’s Republic of China on status of bilateral treaties, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide to the Presidency of BIH, and Minister Dr Zlatko Lagumdžija is proposed as the BIH signatory.

By the conclusion of the Treaty, the applicability of 11 bilateral treaties will be prolonged, while 13 treaties, concluded in the period between 1957 and 2009 will become null and void.

With a view at implementation of the Action Plan of for overcoming consequences of the Republic of Croatia’s joining the EU, the Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Indirect Taxation Administration, together with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Ministry of Communications and Transport, to propose a solution for the completion of works necessary for the Bijača and Gradiška border crossings to become operative.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information form the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on implementation of the Law on Animal Protection and Well-Being, which includes a set of measures concerning the issue of abandoned animals.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Regulation on lists of harmful organisms, lists of herbs, herbal products and approved facilities for the process of gradual adjustment of this area with the EU legislative.

The main reason behind the adoption of the Regulation is its harmonisation with the Council of European Commission Directive of May 8, 2000, on protection measures against entry of harmful organisms for herbs and herbal products and against their spreading in the EU.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry od Communications and Transport, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on appointing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s representatives into a Joint Body for implementation of the Agreement on Inter-State Bridge over the River Sava and connecting border sections of motorway on the corridor V c.

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Osman Topčagić, Head of Section for the European Union in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department for Multilateral Affairs for National Coordinator of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the EU Danube Strategy.

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