Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds its 100th Session
06/10/2014
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH, at its 100th session and 10th devoted to the situation after May 2014 floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, considered again the implementation of conclusions from its 96th session also devoted to floods in BIH.
The Council of Ministers of BIH expresses its dissatisfaction with activities of the BIH Coordination Body for Protection and Rescue from Natural and Other Disasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina and concluded that the Body underperformed its activities defined by the Law on Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural and Other Disasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Chair of the Coordination Body is in charge to prepare for the Council of Ministers an Activity Repot of the Coordination Body.
The Council of Ministers demanded from the Coordination Body information on number of victims killed during the floods in May 2014.
The Council was informed that total 32 Institutions of BIH provided reports on activities they took during and after the floods in BIH.
All institutions which reports are still pending are tasked to provide them to the Council of Ministers urgently.
IMPLEMENTATION OF CONCLUSIONS OF THE PARLIAMNTARIAN ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Council of Ministers of BIH considered Ministries’ comments to conclusions from the 67th session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding a discussion on Information of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on aftermaths of the natural disaster in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Comments of the Ministries of Human Rights and Refugees, Civil Affairs, Security, Defence, Finance and Treasury, and Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, as well as of the Directorate for European Integrations, Indirect Taxation Administration, and Office of Ombudsman for Consumers Rights Protection, will be provided to the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH together with Minutes from 10 sessions of the Council of Ministers, held during and after the floods in BIH.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked to prepare and provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH their relative comments to the House of Representatives conclusions.
SUPPORT TO BIH ARMED FORCES ENGAGEMENT DURING FLOODS
The Council of Ministers of BIH gave its full support to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina for their activities to-date in providing support to civil organisations and population in their flood protection efforts, after considering a Report from the Ministry of defence on supportto civilians during and after May 2014 floods.
The Council of Ministers of BIH supported further engagement of the Armed Forces of BIH, in line with engagement assessments and forecasts for the time ahead.
According to the Ministry of Defence, over 19,000,000 members of the Armed Forces were involved in support to civilians as at May 15; total 1,921 vehicles or about 100 vehicles a day were used in defence from floods and mitigation of the aftermaths, including 65 helicopters in 223 missions. Also, 275 engineering machines and 168 boats of the BIH Armed forces were used. Military barracks of the Armed Forces of BIH provided shelter to 5,500 persons during a 20-day period of time. In the reported period, the BIH Armed Forces responded to 115 requests for assistance to civilians. Armed forces members are still engaged in the field activities.
KM 2 MILLION GANT FOR RETURN OF REFUGEES
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Grant Agreement between the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to a Regional Housing Programme, with basics for its conclusion.
The EUR 2,045 worth grant will be disbursed for housing 120 refugee families.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement with the basics for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister Nikola Špirić is proposed for the signatory.
TO REALLOCATE USD 15 MILLION TO HOUSE RECONSTRUCTION IN FLOODED AREAS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Conclusion tasking the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees to request from the Saudi Fond for Development, via the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH, an amendment of USD 15 million Loan Agreement for Housing Units Reconstruction Project for Refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The funds for reconstruction of about 1,000 residential buildings for refugees and displaced persons would have the same purpose but reallocated for housing reconstruction in flood affected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to an extent to be defined by the Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees.
2013 BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on Execution of Budget of the BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for year 2013, to be provided by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to the Presidency and Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.
According to the Report, total revenues and receivables and financing for the BIH Institutions were KM 996,382,089, and they were increased for five per cent in relation to the planned KM 904, 694,399.00
The expenditures decrease came, among other things, as a result of tightened budget discipline, reflected in decreased material expenses, with a part of planned capital expenses remaining unimplemented. Last year’s savings were made though cuts in salaries, emoluments and hiring, thereby the Council of Ministers made up its commitments under the Letter of Intent with the IMF.
As to the foreign debt service, Bosnia and Herzegovina repaid KM 684,845,561.68, and issued KM 741.86 worth guarantees. The remaining KM 57.02 million due obligations were scheduled for settlement in January 2014.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA JOINS “ERASMUS +” PROGRAMME
The Council of Ministers of BIH accepted a concluding of an Agreement on Participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the “Erasmus +” Programme of the Union for Education, Training, Youth and Sports, and authorised Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union in Brussels Igor Davidović to sign the Agreement. The Agreement stems from the Framework Agreement between the European Community and BIH on Principles of Participation of BIH in the Community Programme.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury is in charge to plan funds for entry into the “Erasmus +” Programme for 2014-2020 in the BIH Institutions Budget, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will inform the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on BIH participation in the “Erasmus +” Programme, and will secure human and other resources for its implementation, aligned to the accession dynamics and implementation activities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will secure EUR 115,000 for the entry into the Community Programme in 2014, with 90 per cent funds provided from the IPA and 10 per cent from the BIH Institutions Budget.
The “Erasmus +” is a new education, training, youth and sports programme with EUR 14.7 billion annual budget. The Programme improves learning opportunities for individuals within and outside the European Union, cooperation among education institutions, youth organisations, companies, local and regional authorities and NGOs, and for the first time, it introduces a support to sports. It targets pupils, students and teaching staff at all education levels, and includes young people of aged range from 13 to 30, individuals, youth-related organisations members, sports workers, volunteers and sportsmen.
The “Erasmus +” replaced seven 2007-2013 programmes such as: the Lifelong Learning Programme (with its sub-programmes Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, Comenius and Grundtvig), Youth in Action; Erasmus Mundus; Tempus; Alfa; and Edulink.
BUDGET EXECUTION REPORT FOR 2014 Q1 ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on Execution of the Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations for the first three months of year 2014.
Total collected revenues, financing and receivables for the funding of the BIH Institutions in January-March 2014 were KM 219,593,778.00, while the total expenditures were KM 204,516,973.00. This quarter marked no new borrowings at the BIH level. All foreign liabilities were regularly settled, in amount of KM 202,308,206.00.
SEVERAL PROPOSAL AGREEMEND DEFINED
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Finance and Project Agreement between the KfW, Frankfurt am Main, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Borrower), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federation) and Municipalities of Zenica and Tuzla (project implementation agencies), worth EUR 9,490,000.00 (investment) and EUR 1,500,000 (accompanying measures) for the Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in BIH II.
The grant is worth total about EUR 11 million and it is intended for the improvement of water supply and sanitation system in Zenica and Tuzla, thereby contributing to better living conditions of their citizens.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and Minister Nikola Špirić is proposed as the BIH signatory.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined individual Proposal Loan Agreements between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) for the Klopče – Donja Gračanica (Components A and B) Sub-Sections of the corridor V c Motorway.
The Loan value for Components A and B implementation is about EUR 60 million, out of which EUR 37 million for Component A and EUR 23 million for Component B, respectively, with the repayment term of 15 years for Component A and 14 for Component B and five and four years respective grace periods.
The Klopče-Donja Gračanica Sub-Section is 6.23 km long, it continues to 2.23km long Drivuše – Klopče Sub-Section, and construction plans include resting surface with greenery on both sides of the motorway.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the individual Proposal Agreements with basics for their conclusion to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister Nikola Špirić is proposed as the BIH signatory.
PREVENTION OF AVIAN FLU ENTRY TO BIH
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on ban of import and transit of certain deliveries to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the reason of prevention of bringing into BIH avian flu from 23 countries, among which there are China, Russia, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Libya, and Japan.
Imports of live poultry, eggs, and processed poultry meat are forbidden if originating from or being transited though these countries.
In addition, imports of such products from Australia and Italy is only allowed if they are from the areas not hit by the contagion, as verified by competent veterinary service of the country of export.
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