Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 119th Session
01/21/2015
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic relations, adopted an Action Plan for Flood Protection and river management in BIH in 2014-2’17, providing a framework for coordinated and orderly treatment of flood protection and river management issues, both in BIH and at regional level.
The Ministry of Foreign trade and Economic Relations will cooperate with other relevant institutions at all levels and legally coordinate realisation of the Acton Plan measures, and report it to Council of Ministers annually.
State ministries of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Security, Civil Affairs, Finance and Treasury and Directorate for European Integrations will arrange a focused cooperation for as effective as possible realisation of the Action Plan.
The Action Plan consists of six key measures and 22 sub-measures to be realised by competent institutions by year 2017. This package of measures includes, among other things, decrease of flood-caused damage, erosion and torrents at the existing protective facilities, riverbeds and channels, harmonisation of flood protection system with the corresponding EU Directive, development of flood protection technical solutions, establishment of BIH hydrology forecast system, strengthening of related BIH institutional capacities.
The Action Plan implementation costs KM 592.7 million, and thus far KM 267.2 million was secured form loans, grants and budget funds. Several on-going projects will secure additional KM 100 million.
BIH AND SERBIA TO INTENSIFY ENVIRONEMNTAL PROTECTION COOPERATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of BIH and Government of the Republic of Serbia on cooperation in environmental protection and sustainable development, which calls for setting-up of a joint committee for tis implementation.
The two states agreed cooperation in transposing European legislation relating to environmental protection, climate change, air and water protection, solid waste management and treatment and landscape protection.
The proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Foreign trade and economic relations was prosed as the BIH signatory.
MATERIAL AND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR BIH CITIZENS IN AUSTRALIA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined proposal basics for negotiations on an agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Australia on social insurance, aiming at harmonised application of relevant national legislative.
This is the most important national initiative in the history of bilateral relations of the two states, as the conclusion of the Agreement will secure material and social security for considerable number of BIH citizens once employed or still working in Australia.
The Agreement refers to health and pension insurance, in addition to disability insurance in cases of injury at work or professional disease, and unemployment, as well as child care and maternity care benefits.
The Ministry for Civil Affairs will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Civil Affairs was proposed as the BIH signatory.
BIH – SERBIA COOERPATION IN RADIATION AND NUCLEAR SAFETY
The Council of Ministers defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on cooperation in radiation and nuclear safety area.
This will establish a bilateral cooperation in radiation safety in terms of exchange of relevant information, prevention of unauthorised traffic with nuclear and radioactive matters and provision of adequate response in case of na incident.
The State Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety will provide the proposal basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Agency Manager Emir Dizdarević was proposed as the BIH signatory.
BIH READY FOR SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING IN BRUSSELS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a note of the Directorate for European Integrations on meeting of the Sub-Committee for Innovations, IT Society, Social Policy and Public Health within the seventh round of Sub-Committee meetings, scheduled for February 5-6, 2015 in Brussels.
The proposed agenda and BIH Delegation composition were agreed, and discussion document was adopted, to which all members of the BIH Delegation are due to comply with during in their presentations.
The Directorate for European Integrations is responsible for all needed organisational activities for the meeting of the Sub-Committee for Innovations, IT Society, Social Policy and Public Health within the seventh round of Sub-Committee meetings.
The BIH Delegation is comprised of representatives of the State and Entity level institutions responsible for health, education and science, economy, displaced persons and refugees, European integrations, transport and communications, public administration, labour and welfare and IT society.
The meeting agenda includes, among other things, IT society and media, education, youth and culture, and BIH cooperation with the EU in these areas, in addition to employment and social policy
The Council of Ministers made a conclusion about need for a systematic change of all European integrations work groups, in compliance to Constitutional competences.
DEVELOPMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION OF ITA CENTRES AND BORDER CROSSINGS
Upon a proposal of the Indirect Taxation Administration, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve a project of purchase and construction of facilities for regional centres and Central Office of the Indirect Taxation Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ITA BIH) and construction and reconstruction of border crossings.
The decision pertains to construction and furbishing of the Gradiška border crossing, along with Vardište, Uvac, Deleuša, Uzljebić and border crossings, along with Bijača and Svilaj border crossings. Also, construction and furbishing of Gorica and Ivanjica border crossings will enable export of products of herbal origin to the Republic of Croatia and further to European Union.
The project covers development and furbishing of ITA facilities for Mostar, Tuzla, Sarajevo, and Banja Luka regional centres and for the Main office in Banja Luka.
The total value of the project is KM 116,982,421.00, conclusive for year 2017, out of which two thirds were already provided for, with KM 30.9 million additional budget funding through 2017.
INCREASED SAVING FOR TAX PAYERS
Upon a proposal of the Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH, the Council of Ministers took a decision to approve “Development of new taxation application in information system of the Indirect Taxation Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina” multi-year project, estimated at KM eight KM million.
The funds were planned to be secured from state annual budgets over 2015-2017.
Other than more effective and high quality operations in the Administration, the taxation application implementation into the Indirect Taxation Administration information system will also secure savings both for the Administration and for BIH tax payers, thus including BIH among countries with more efficient administration.
TO AMEND NAD SUPPLEMENT BIH VETERINARY LAW
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Veterinary Office of BIH on status of hygiene package and tasked cross-sector work group to intensify its activities on preparation of amendments and supplements of the Veterinary Law of BIH.
At a meeting arranged by the Veterinary Office in mid-November last year with representatives of the State level Ministries and agencies and Entity line Ministries and inspectorates, it was concluded that it is needless to prolong the date of application of regulation on food safety, the so-called “hygiene package”. The focus of the meeting was the implementation of the Council of Ministers of BIH conclusion from its 112th session, devoted to the state of affairs and challenges in the BIH dairy industry.
REGULATION ON ANIMAL ORIGIN FOOD SAFETY HARMONISED WITH EU REGULATIONS
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Council of Ministers took a regulation on amendment of regulation on safety of animal origin food with a mark “E”, which confirms harmonisation with the relevant European regulations.
The Amendments regulation define that raw milk and colostrum of all animals, not fulfilling precisely defined requirements relating to raw milk, colostrum and colostrum-based milk products, especially those from animals with positive reaction to prophylactic tests to tuberculosis and brucellosis, must not be used for human nutrition, according to special legal regulations.
The regulation will be implemented by the BIH Veterinary Office, competent Entity and Brlko District Ministerial bodies and Inspectorates, by official veterinary services and veterinary inspections.
EUR 25 MILLION FOR SMEs AND MUNICIPALITIES
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to the European Investment Bank to conclude a loan agreement with “Ziraat Bank BH” for amount of EUR 25 million for crediting small and medium enterprises or municipalities.
The funds are intended for project implementation in the areas of rational use of energy, for infrastructure, industry, trade and services and environmental protection and improvement in BIH.
TO IMPLMENT BIH TOURISTIC PROMOTION ACTIVITIES
The Council of Ministers adopted information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on activities of the Work Group for Coordination of Tourism-Related Activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014.
The Work Group is tasked to start realisation of activities planned for the up-coming period of time, in accordance with an initiative of joint interest made by competent institutions in tourism sector.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will provide the conclusion to competent Entity Ministries and Brčko District Government.
BIH REALISES KM 11,088,240.00 SUCCESSION PROCEEDIGNS IN 2014
The implementation of Annex C of the Agreement on ex-SFRY Succession Issues brought along KM 11,088,240.00 of proceedings, reads a report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on implementation of Annex C of the Agreement on Succession Issues, adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH.
The BIH authorised representative in the Joint Committee of Successor Countries for Annex C of the Agreement on Ex-SFRY Succession Issues to take needed actions to protect BIH interests in the liquidation proceeding of in New York-based Belgrade Bank Agency and Jugobank.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH is tasked to take all needed measures for protection of BIH interests in settling outstanding of ex-SFRY debts.
FREE TEXTBOOKS FOR 1,295 ROMA PUPILS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on implementation of revised BIH Action Plan on Education Needs of Roma Population for Academic Year 2013/2014, to be provided by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees to all competent Education Ministries in BIH for action under rel4vant recommendations, for the aim of better social inclusion of Roma children and their improved education.
According to available data, 190 Roma preschool children were included into formal pre-school education programmes in 2013/014, 2,078 were enrolled to elementary schools, and 651 were enrolled to secondary schools. In the reported period, 29 pupils graduated from secondary school, out of total 92 pupils attending.
Free textbooks for Roma children included into elementary education were secured for 1,295 pupils or for 62.3 per cent of the total enrolled; free transport was secured for 147 Roma pupils of elementary schools, and free meal was available for 749 pupils. Total 42 Roma children and one adult were included into the extraordinary elementary education system.
In 2013/2014 academic year, 99 Roam secondary school pupils enjoyed scholarship, and only eight Roma were enrolled to university in the reported period.
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