Council of Ministers of BIH Holds Its 8th Session

NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF RESPONDENTS THINKS EUROPEAN ROAD OF BIH HAS NO ALTERNATIVE 

The Council of Ministers adopted Information form the Directorate for European Integrations on results of a poll conducted in March 2015.

The Accession to the EU is supported by 91 per cent of respondents in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 58 per cent of in Republika Srpska, and 83 from the Brčko District of BIH. Almost two thirds of respondents consider the European road of Bosnia and Herzegovina has no alternative.

Reforms need to be implemented for the creation of better living conditions for BIH citizens, rather than for membership in  the EU, according to 85 per cent of respondents, compared with last year’s 67 per cent.

The poll showed that BIH citizens want to be informed of topics on EU Funds, mostly so on EU Funds-financed concrete projects. Respondents mostly use TV and Internet as sources of information on European integrations.

The Directorate for European Integrations conducted the poll in March 2015 , using CATI method (personal interviews in a phone poll) on 1,200 respondents sample thought BIH.

 

 

EXPORT INCREASE, IMPORT DECREASE, TRADE DEFICIT REDUCTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of an analysis of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on foreign exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first quarter of 2015, which indicates that the reported period was marked by increase of export, and lowering of imports and foreign trade deficit, currently in amount of KM 1.44 billion, as decreased for KM 122.5 million relative to the same quarter 2014.

The first quarter of 2015 marks the import of goods worth KM 3.56 billion, or 1.85 per cent lower relative to Q1 2014. Simultaneously, total export reached KM 2.12 billion, and represents KM 54.89 million or 2.66 per cent increase compared to last year. Also, coverage of import by export was 59.47 per cent, or 2.62 per cent higher than last year’s.

The European Union is still our main foreign trade partner, so that in the total volume of goods exchange, the EU participates with 63.03 per cent, and is followed by CEFTA signatory countries with 13.26 per cent, while 22.7 per cent accounts for other counties. Bosnia and Herzegovina exported mostly to Germany, Italy, Croatia, Serbia in Q1 2015, while an increase of export to the Republic of Turkey was marked at the level of 73.05 per cent, relative to the year before.  Also, major import was made from Germany, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, China and Russia. Major deficit was market with China, Russia, Serbia and Croatia.

The most exported goods in Q1 2015 were aluminium, electric power, automobile seats, rubber-sole footwear, plastic, leather, sunflower oil, corn, hot-rolled steel or non-alloyed steel wire, insulated wire, while agricultural exports increased for 29.6 per cent. Major imports were in petroleum oil, crude oil, personal cars and petroleum.

 

 

TO ADJUST AGRICULTUAL IT SYSTEM WITH EU’S

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on setting-up agriculturalinformationsystem in Bosnia andHerzegovina, with a review of activities of undertaken for adaptation of the area with the EU acquis.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is tasked to cooperate with competent authorities in the Entities and Brčko District of BIH in order to finalise development of guidelines for establishment and development of an agricultural IT system in BIH, and to provide it to the Council of Ministers for adoption.

The Council of Ministers of BIH calls all competent institutions in BIH to start creating preconditions for the use of IPA II funds for setting-up and development of the BIH Agricultural IT System.

The Agricultural IT System in BIH, which is in the process of establishment and development, contains registries of farms and their respective clients, animal ID and registration system, integrated administrative control system, phyto-registry, census of agricultural assets, farm accountancy data, and GIS frame for sample-based research of agricultural IT system in Bosniaand Herzegovina.

 

 

CoM WANTS TO DECREASE RISK OF LOSS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, on supplements to the Decision on criteria for selection of banks for deposit keeping of loan and grant proceeds used for project financing in BIH, together with suggestions made at the session  for the purpose of having the least possible risk exposure in deposit management and as minimal as possible losses and expenses.

The supplements identify the most important risk aspects of deposit keeping in financial institutions and banks in the country and abroad, in conditions or changing financial markets and strategic decision-taking by Eurozone monetary authorities with a view of maintaining macro-financial stability and economic stagnation prevention.

 

 

TO ESTABLISH IT RECORDS ON SHIPPING BOOKLETS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on competences for personalisation, technical processing, transport, establishment and maintaining of IT records of marine and maritime booklets, as proposed by the Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency of BIH, with an aim to set-up IT system for keeping electronic records on booklets, in compliance with international standards.

 

 

REFUGEES IN BIH SECURED RELATED RIGHTS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on accommodation in BIH of persons under international protection in BIH, which will be provided to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

Those persons, holding the status of refugees or subsidiary protection, are secured the related rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on this, in time form Dec 31, 2014, 104 persons with recognised refugee status and 23 persons with the status of subsidiary protection were taken care of.

From year 2000 on, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees manages The “Selakovac” Refugee Centre in Mostar.

The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees will keep the Council of Ministers of BIH informed on situation in this area and will propose relevant measures for improvement of the situation in this area.

 

TO ADJUST SECONDARY PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION TO MARKET NEEDS

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on implementation of a Development Strategy for Professional Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007-2013, which highlights a need for all competent authorities to intensify reforms in order to adopt relevant EU standards.

Reforms of the secondary professional education and training made certain results, but the on-going activities need to be intensified and new ones undertaken, based on “Europa 2020” and “South-East Europa 2020” Strategies, in addition to the European Qualification Framework for Lifetime Learning and Base Qualification Framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is tasked, for the purpose of continuation and intensification of the secondary professional education and training reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to require from constitutionally competent Ministries and institutions to develop their own legal, programmatic and other regulations, needed to intensify the secondary professional education and training reforms, especially in terms of adjusting this kind of education with needs of market and society in general. Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH urges education and other authorities, as relevant sector partners, to take required activities for a full implementation of commitments and measures defined under a “Strategic Platform for Development of Adult-Education in Context of Life-Long Learning in BIH in 2014-2020”.

The information underlines a need for adjustment of the Secondary professional education system with the needs of labour market, as the half working age people in BIH are secondary school graduates. This considerable potential should be unleashed by way of life-long learning to result in wider employment and social inclusion, i.e. poverty reduction.

 

 

“PERSPECTIVE” TRANSITION AND CARE-TAKING PROGRAMME FOR RELEASED DEFENCE MINISTRY AND AMRED FORCES PERSONNEL

 

The Council f Ministers of BIH adopted a report on implementation of the “Perspective” Transition and Care-Taking Programme for released Personal of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of BIH in 2014.

The session endorsed efforts of the Defence Ministry to prepare and implement the transition programme, its own, as of last year, especially as concerns component of the mental health and psycho-social assistance to members of the Defence Ministry and Armed Forces.

 

 

REPORT ON SAA APPLICATION EXTENSION  

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on application of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement between the European Communities and their member-states, on one side, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the other side, being extended to cover the Republic of Croatia (having regard of  Bosnia and Herzegovina’s understanding of technical adaptation of the Agreement and related  conclusion of a Protocol to the SAA, in consideration of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union)

The Directorate for European Integrations should urgently provide to the Presidency of BIH a proposal for adoption - in compliance with Article V.3. (d) of the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina – of a decision on extension of the SAA application to the Republic of Croatia, to be applicable from the SAA effectiveness date until the beginning of the Protocol to SAA application, in order to take into consideration the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union.

The Directorate will inform the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of the decision immediately upon its adoption at the BIH Presidency, and the Ministry will instruct the Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH on the SAA application extended to imports from the Republic of Croatia, so that it could take all necessary measures for timely and smooth application of the Presidency’s decision.

The BIH Institutions responsible for transport, finances, competition and intellectual property should prepare smooth application of the decision, monitor implementation and application of the SAA provisions in the EU territory, and report eventual breach thereof in relation to Bosnia and Herzegovina or legal or natural entities from BIH to the Council of Ministers of BIH without delay.

 

 

TO FIND MUUTALY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION

 

The Council of Ministers of BH adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on the current status of negotiations for conclusion of a Protocol to the Transitional Agreement on Trade and Trade Issues between the European Community, on one side, and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the other side, to take into consideration the EU accession of the Republic of Croatia.

A Delegation of BIH, comprised of the State, Entity and Brčko District institutions should attend Brussels meeting of negotiating teams, on May 29, 2015, to reiterate readiness to continue talks in order to find mutually acceptable solution.

The BIH Delegation will act in compliance with its mandate under the BH negotiating position, while goods not identified for a full customs protection until BIH’s accession to the EU, nor covered by the Transitional Agreement may not be the subject of the negotiations. The BIH Delegation will report the outcome of the meeting outcome to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

 

 

BUSINESS ENTITIES REGISTRATION REFORM

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on implementation of “Business Entities Registration Reform Road Map” to be funded out from the Public Administration Reform Fund, and expressed its support to the project aims.

The Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office should include the project implementation in its regular activity reports to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

The project will create a detailed and comprehensive road map of business entities registration reform, agreed with all concerned parties, to allow launch of electronic business making with BIH public administration, via single contact point. The overall aim of the project is to increase competiveness of BIH economy and stimulate business entities by way of improvement public administration effectiveness, efficacy, quality, flexibility and transparency of service provision to business entities, using innovative ITC systems in public administration restructuring.

The Federation of BIH and Brčko District of BIH should get their separate reform road maps, which would be added to the reform plan already in implementation in Republika Srpska.

 

 

TO INTENSIFY ACTIVITIES HARMONISING SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a report of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on implemented support to agriculture and rural development in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014, and expressed its concern for a significant decrease of financial contributions for agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Office for Harmonisation of Payments in Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in BIH should cooperate with Entity Ministries to intensify activities targeting harmonisation of support to agriculture and rural development in BIH.

The total budget for agriculture in BIH last year was KM 139.1 million and it is less for about KM 5.6 million than the year before, and it is the smallest budget amount in 2009-2014 time. The major fall in funds for agriculture was evidenced in the Brčko District of BIH with KM 3.6 million budget, which is a reduction for about three million KM, while in the Federation of BIH decrease is KM 2.5 million; Republika Srpska cut its budget for agriculture for KM 107.000.

 

 

TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN BIH INSTITUTIONS

 

The Council of Ministers adopted an Annual Report on Introduction of Financial Management and Control System in BIH Institutions for 2014, as proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and tasked the Central Harmonisation Unit under the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to continue fulfilling its responsibilities in respect to financial management and control introduction and development in BIH Institutions, in accordance with dynamics adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH, for institutions to meet their commitments under the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement implementation.

BIH Institutions should operatively implement financial management and control related by-laws, in order to improvement financial management and control system in compliance with applicable legal framework.

 

 

STRONGER COOPERATION WITH NGO SECTOR   

 

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on implementation of rules of consultations in development of legal regulations in the BIH Institutions, with a set of practical implementation problem-solving measures.

Cooperation with the NGO sector needs to be strengthened to include public stakeholders interested for policies and activities of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

All BIH Institutions are obliged to plan the envisaged instruments for implementation of the rules for consultations and their amendments and supplements.

Institutions should designate consultation coordinators, prepare a list of OCD and individuals interested for consultations, assess public effects of regulations, and set a form of consultations, assess consultations financial impact  for regulations included in institutions’ 2015 work programme, post on its web-site the inventory of normative-legal operations from institutions’ 2015 work programme and distribute it to interested listed organisations and individuals and other interested parties.

By following the example of the Ministry of Justice, all institutions will develop their respective internal procedures for implementation of the rules for consultation.

The Ministry of Justice should report annually to the Council of Ministers of BIH on the implementation of the Rules for consultations, which should incorporate data on implementation of the previous Council of Ministers conclusions.

 

FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IN COMMITTEE FOR NATO

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took a decision to amend the decision on establishment of a Committee for NATO integrations process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Deputy Foreign Minister Josip Brkić was proposed for President of the Committee and Deputy Minister of Security Mijo Krešić was proposed for Committee Member. These functional appointments were made for the purpose of more effective Committee operation,  as the elector functions of the previous President, Deputy President and Committee Member expired.

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