Press Releases
Council of Ministers of BIH Holds its 62nd Session
09/02/2013
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Proposal Law demarcates competences for certain criminal acts covered by the BIH Criminal code and by the Entity and Brko District respective Criminal Codes for the purpose of removal of possible conflicts of competences between the Entity and Brčko District police and judicial bodies.
The Amendment provides for, among other things, stricter sentences for criminal acts of human trafficking, as the organised international human trafficking is classified as a special criminal act.
The Proposed Law recognises a criminal act “forcible disappearance”, as a special criminal act non-related to the state of war.
The Ministry of Justice will provide the Proposal law to the Presidency of BIH.
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted an Analysis of Foreign Trade Exchange of BIH for January – June 2013, which indicated that the trade deficit in relation to the same period last year was decreased for 12.39 per cent, while the coverage of import by export was 58.06, which was an increase for 5.32 per cent.
A total volume of foreign trade exchange for the first six months of this year was KM 11.44 billion, which is for KM 290 million or 2.15 per cent higher relative to the volume in the same period last year.
In the reported period, goods imported valued to KM 7.2 billion, which was for 1.28 per cent less compared with the same period last year. Simultaneously, total export reached KM 4.20 billion, which represents 8.66 % increase in the reported period. So the trade deficit amounted to KM 3.04 billion, and was decreased for 12.39 per cent compared with the same period last year.
The European Union continues to be the main foreign trade partner, so that in the total volume of exchange of goods it participates with 61.97 per cent, followed by CETFA 2006 countries signatories, with a share of 25.81 per cent, while 22.22 per cent relates to other counties in the total volume of exchange.
The Council of Ministers of BIH was informed of an Audit Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions’ committees, prepared by the BIH Audit Office.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury is tasked to use the Report recommendations in preparation of an act to define clear criteria and rules for establishment of committees and other operative bodies of BIH Institutions assisting them in their performance. The act is also to secure a definition of clear tasks and measurable results expected from such committees and other operative bodies, reimbursement payments based on results against the goals, and record keeping of established committees and other operative bodies.
Under these conclusions, the Council of Ministers of BIH aspires both to bring more order in the work of committees and additionally rationalise budgetary spending.
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations prepared by the BIH Veterinary Office on realised and planned activities concerning the fulfilment of conditions for export of products of animal origin to the EU.
It was indicated that the adoption of the Amendments of the Law on Veterinary Activity and establishment of models of official food and animal food controls, as prescribed by earlier signed Protocol, as well as in other areas other than milk and dairy products, would help in fulfilling preconditions for export of other products of animal origin.
The BIH Veterinary Office says that it will in future monitor the realisation of all contractual obligations concerning the cooperation with local authorities, and will certify only those facilities which fully meet all the requirements for the export of milk and dairy products.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for the conclusion of a General Memorandum of Understanding between the EUFOR and BIH Ministry of Defence, which will to promote joint activities and simplify cooperation defined under earlier agreements.
The Ministry of Defence will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and Minister Zekerijah Osmić is proposed for the BIH signatory.
The Council of Ministers of BIH considered Information of the Ministry for Human rights and Refugees on the issue of nomination of a candidate for the UN Human Rights Award.
The Ministry for Human Rights and refugees will set-up a joint committee comprised of representatives of sector ministries, academic community and respectable NGOs active in human rights promotion area for the selection od a candidate to be nominated on behalf of BIH, and the committee will be.
After appropriate procedure following a public call, the committee will provide the proposal nomination to the Council of Ministers of BIH for a final confirmation.
The UN Human Rights Award will be presented on December 10, 2013 in New York on the occasion of the Human Rights Day.
Upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a 2013-2017 BIH Gender Action Plan, tasking all competent institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to get actively involved in the realisation of all planned activities.
This strategic document in the area of gender equality is in conformity with international standards stemming from UN, EU and Council of Europe documents and related obligations.
The BIH Gender Action Plan covers objectives, programmes and measures for the achievement of gender equality in all areas of life and work in public and private domain, simultaneously providing for guidance for development of annual operative plans at the state, entity, cantonal and local levels.
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted guidelines on cross-sector coordination procedure for receipt, shipping and transit of international assistance for protection and rescue, which follow the relevant EU and the International Federation of Red Cross and red Crescent Societies guidelines.
This would contribute to BIH protection and rescue system in case of natural and other disasters, in addition to being a step forward in its Euro-Atlantic integrations process.
Fires and floods are increasingly evidenced in BIH lately, which requires certain measure- taking for their prevention, response, mitigation of consequences, as well as management of operations, forces and other resources for response, including relaying on international partners which may assist in case of natural and other disasters.
Upon a proposal of the Secretariat-General of the Council of Ministers, the Council of Ministers of BIH considered a Review of Realisation Status of Council of Ministers’ Conclusions for the period January 1, 2013 – June 30, 2013, during which total 22 sessions were held with 374 conclusion adopted, out of which 350 or 94 per cent were realised, while 24 conclusions remained unrealised.
Ministries and other institutions not fully realising the Council of Ministers’ conclusions are tasked to fully implement them without delay and to accelerate prearrangements for those conclusions which realisation takes longer time or cooperation with other institutions.
In future, the realisation of Council of Ministers’ conclusions should be prioritised by all Ministries and other institutions.
Upon a proposal of the Agency for Food Safety, the Council of Ministers of BIH took several regulations for food categorised with “E” mark, which represents a confirmation of harmonisation with EU regulations.
The regulations adopted are the Regulation on chopped meat, meat semi-products and products; Regulation on analysis methods of heat treated milk for human nutrition; Regulation on sampling and analysis methods for condensed milk and powder milk for human nutrition; Regulation on processed food based on wheat and food for babies and infants; and Regulation on sampling and analysis methods of eatable casein and caseinat.
This way, the BIH legislation is brought in line with that the EU, in addition to improving the protection of consumer health with simultaneous protection of producers and EU standards compliant procedures.
Upon a proposal of the BIH Veterinary Office, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Regulation on measures in case of detection of certain salmonella serotypes relevant to the public health.
The Regulation prescribes measures in case of doubt to infection, and in case of confirmed doubt to infection with relevant salmonella serotype of hatching eggs, laying hens and broilers.
In case of positive findings for relevant salmonella serotype, the authorised laboratory is due to inform within 24 hours, the owner, competent veterinary inspector, and competent Entity and Brčko District authority which will report the case to the BIH Veterinary Office. In case of positive result, the owner is obliged to report it to the competent veterinary organisation.
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