Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 120th Session
11/08/2017
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Deposit Insurance in Banks of Bosnia and Herzegovina, proposed by the Steering Board of the Deposit Insurance Agency, comprised of State and Entity-level Finance Ministers and Governor of the Central Bank of BIH.
The aim of adopting the comprehensive law is to improve financial stability, increase transparency and harmonise the relevant legislation with the EU directives. The new Law enables better protection of savers on bank transformation in BIH, and included was a possibility for bank restructuring. Banks obtaining their operation permission from Entity banking agencies enter automatically the deposit insurance process.
The BIH Deposit Insurance Agency, with its headquarters in Banja Luka and branch offices in Banja Luka and Sarajevo, is responsible for the payment of deposit savings to both natural and legal persons through their member banks, in compliance to this law, as well as for taking part in the bank restructuring process.
The proposal law will be sent to the Parliamentarian Assembly for consideration under a shortened procedure.
AMENDMETNS AND SUPPLEMENTS OF THE LAW ON DEMINING FOR ITS MORE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION
The Council of Minsters of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina, aiming a more effective application and harmonisation of the existing solutions with requirements and needs on the field, as the original text law was adopted some 14 years ago. The Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Demining introduce anti-mine action, under which BIH undertakes the international standard in this area. They also define more precisely the competences of the Mine Action Centre (BHMAC), and improve deminers ’ work.
The novelty is the introduction of fine for unauthorised persons who dispose of or remove a mine sign or are in possession of one, especially when they enter the mine-risk area marked by mine signs.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide the proposal Law to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for consideration under the basic legislative procedure.
SPORTS FEDERATIONS REPONSIBLE FOR ARBITRAGE IN DISPUTES BETWEEN ATHLETES AND THHIR SPORT CLUBS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined by a majority vote a proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which improves the existing procedures for the sake of the more expedite and high quality application of the Law.
The Supplements to the Law on Sports Federations of Bosnia and Herzegovina renders competence for arbitrage in disputes between sportspersons and sports clubs, though their arbitrage bodies, which is the international standard.
Also it provides for the strategy of sports development in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be adopted by the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly, on a proposal of the Council of Ministers of BIH, with previously obtained agreements of the Entities and Brčko District of BIH, while the sports development programmes will be adopted by the council of Ministers
Also it sets forth an accountability of a legal person in sport if it organises a sports event in BIH, not in accordance with recommendations of the European Convention on suppression of violence and improper behaviour of viewers, especially at soccer matches.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide the Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Sports to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.
FBD CONSIDERED, PROPOSAL BUDGET 2018 OF BIH INSITUTTIONS TO FOLLOW
The Council of Ministers of BIH conducted a discussion, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, on a Framework Budget Document (FBD) of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2018-2020.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH will continue its activities on drafting a Draft Budget of BH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for year 2018, which will be considered at one of the following sessions of the Council of Ministers, together with the FBD final version , and send it to the BIH Presidency, competent for initiating it.
2020 DEVELOPMENT-INVESTMENT PROGRAMME OF BIH ISNTITUTIONS ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted ae Ministry of Finance and Treasury-proposed Draft Public Investment Programme/development-Investment Programme of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2020, as a support to the Council of Ministers of BIH and BIH Institutions for planning of investment and high quality investment decision-making.
The Programme contains data on 251 projects in 2018-2020 of total value of KM 1 billion and KM 992.52 million. Of that sum, KM one billion and 309.51 million considers 154 projects in implementation, and KM 683.01 refer to 97 proposed projects.
CoM ADVISED ON PREPARATION OF ANSWERS TO EC QUESTIONNAIRE
The process of technical finalisation of answers to the European Commission Questionnaire is in its end phase, reads a report on the on-going and following activities as to preparation of answers to the European Commission Questionnaire, by the Directorate for European Integrations presented to the Council of Ministers of BIH.
Today’s session was informed that 28 chapters are ready to be translated, and efforts are being taken for the number of non-agreed answers to be as less as possible.
Additional five work groups sent the finalised answers to the Questionnaire to the European Integrations Committee Secretariat the over the last seven days, which will be send for further procedure, and the same is expected from the remaining five work groups.
Engaged are 143 translators from throughout BIH for translation of the EC Questionnaire chapters, which were verified to-date.
LOAN FOR RAILWAYS RESTRUCTURING IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and designated a negotiating delegation for conclusion of a Loan Contract (Republika Srpska Railways Reconstruction Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for reconstruction and Development.
The loan worth EUR 51,328 million with 32 term and 10 years of grace period, will be used for the improvement of operative effectiveness and financial sustainability of railways in Republika Srpska.
EUR 4.75 MILLION SWISS GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR PURIFICATION OF WASTE WATER IN ZENICA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Government of the Swiss Confederation, represented by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, for approval of a financial contribution in the form of a grant for the Zenica Waste Waters Collection and Purification Project.
It is the grant from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation Government in amount of EUR 4,750,000.00 for the implementation of the Waste Waters collection and Purification in Zenica, managed by the KfW. The project will improve the living conditions of the citizens of Zenica and environment protection, especially the River Bosna and its tributaries in Zenica.
The Proposal Agreement with the Basics for its conclusion will be forwarded to the BIH presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed as the BIH signatory.
CITIZENS FO BIH AND CHINE IN NON-VISA REGIME
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the People’s Republic of China on mutual lifting of visas, which will facilitate travel by citizens of the two stares, holding the valid passports, and it will contribute the development of economy and tourism and will benefit the cultural exchange.
The proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs was proposed for the BIH signatory.
INTENSIVE ACTIVITIES ON REHABILITATION OF UNA RAILWAY
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on activities for realisation of a Joint Initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia, signed in Sarajevo this May.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH is responsible to prepare and provide to the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina a Proposal Resolution on designation of the Joint Operative Body members from Bosnia and Herzegovina, tasked to make a detailed analysis of the current state of affairs and make an elaboration on rehabilitation, modernisation and putting into operation of the Una Railway.
The project was assessed as very important since the Una railway was the most cost effective way of cargo and passengers transport at North-South direction, with about 1.5 million passengers and 4 million tonnes of cargo annually, which is the extreme importance for the region.
TO CEASE UNILATERAL REMOVAL OF DNA LABS FROM BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH, as the co-founder of the BIH Institute for Missing Persons, called upon the International Committee for Missing Persons (ICMP) to cease all unilateral activities taken so far of removing DNA laboratories from BIH to The Hague.
The Council of Ministers urged the International Committee for Missing Persons to negotiate, in compliance with an Agreement on co-founding the BIH Institute for Missing Persons, with a BIH Council of Ministers negotiating team, designated today, on future activities as to identification of missing persons, in accordance with the agreement Article 12. The BIH negotiating team, comprised of representatives of the competent state bodies, including the BIH Court and Prosecutor’s Office, will be led by Minister for Human Rights and refugees Semiha Borovac.
The removal of DNA laboratories to The Hague might cause a total stalemate in the missing persons identification process in the next five months, and will slow dawn and increase the price of the process in the long term, because of sending the bone samples to that city. There si also a problem of taking 80,000 bone remains from BIH, i.e. biological and genetic samples of the missing persons in BIH, and data protection of the missing persons’ family members.
BIH INTEREST FOR PRESERVATION OF HERBAL AND ANIMAL RESOURCES IN SEE
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal for signing a Ministerial Declaration on future of fishery at the Mediterranean, titled: “Maltese Med-Fish4Ever Ministerial Declaration”, and will sent it to the BIH Presidency, together with a proposal for the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations as the BIH signatory.
By voluntarily accepting this political declaration, Bosnia and Herzegovina shows its readiness and interest for preservation of herbal and animal resources in the see and tis vicinity. The adjustment of national circumstances and coherent harmonisation thereof with the rest of the region is done in compliance with the Constitutional competences and planned budget of the responsible Entity institutions.
COM’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PROMOTION OF DOMESTIC PRODUCTION AT INTERNATIOANL FAIRS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, on allocation of KM 365,000.00 from current grants intended for participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina at fair and other events and activities abroad in 2017.
Thereby, the Council of Ministers supports the promotion of domestic production at 11 international fairs, among which there are fairs of organic products, vine, technology, special purpose industry, technique and technical achievements, food and beverages. Out of these funds, KM 120,000.00 was intended for support of trade representative office in Istanbul.
Special, own funds for participation at the fairs were secured by the Chamber of Foreign Commerce of Bosnia and Herzegovina and they will be added to funds allocated by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.
TO PREPARE AND SEND TO CoM CUSTOMS POLICY IMPLEMENTATION REGULATIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH requested the Indirect Taxation Administration Steering Board to provide urgently, in 30 days’ time at latest, all implementation regulations relating the Law on Customs Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to ensure a full implementation of the Law and facilitate the activities of entrepreneurs in BIH.
EIGHT REPORT ON APPLICATION OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL CHARTER IN LABOUR RIGHTS ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Eight Report of Bosnia and Herzegovina on application of the European Social Charter (revised) for Articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, and 28 (group III: labour rights) for the referent period of time January 2012-December 2016.
The comprehensive report, 80-page long, contains all up-dated information on legislative framework and situation in practice concerning labour, including the right to just conditions and reimbursements for work, right to organisation and collective bargaining, as well as rights to information and participation and improvement of work conditions.
The Report, by which BIH fulfils its international obligations, was prepared by the Cross-Sector Work Group, comprised of representatives of competent State, Entity and Brčko District Institutions.
The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees will provide, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Eight Report to the Council of Europe General Secretary and associations of employers and unions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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