Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 136th Session
03/20/2018
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined by majority vote a proposal Law on Amendments of the Law on Intelligence-Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby implementing a Constitutional Court Decision.
Under the Ministry of Security-initiated Amendment of the Law on Intelligence-Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the content was prescribed of written request for secret data collection requiring a court authorisation, including the limitation of the measure duration.
According to the Law Amendments, an order may be approved for a 60-day time period, while in case of need the measure may be prolonged and, with written explanatory proposal by director general supplied, a judge may extend the validity of order for additional 30-day periods, provided that the measures approved may last total 48 months at longest.
The Proposal Law will be sent to urgent parliamentarian procedure.
Last year. The constitutional Court of BIH accepted an appellation by Borjana Krišto, incumbent Chair of the House of Representatives of BIH Parliamentarian Assembly, and declared non-constitutional thee provisions of Article 78 of the Law on Intelligence-Security Agency. Also on that occasion unconstitutional were declared several provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was not considered at today’s session due to grave objections to the proposal Amendments.
PROGRESS MADE IN REGISTRATION OF PERSPECTIVE MILITARY PROPERTY
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Ministry of Defence on realisation of activities concerning meeting of conditions for activation of the Membership Action Plan (MAP), referring to the achieved progress in the process of registration of perspective military sites.
By the end of this February, registered were 31 sites from currently perspective 57 military locations, as was defined in Defence Review document.
The Ministry of Defence of BIH remains fully committed to the realisation of the registration process of perspective military property, in compliance with the Italian Condition.
The North-Atlantic Council and NATO member-countries recognised the progress achieved in the registration of perspective military immovable property as the state property, including the engagement of the Ministry of Defence of BIH in the process of meeting the Italian Condition, as a genuine commitment for credible effort.
STATE GUARANTEE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BANJA LUKA – DOBOJ MOTORWAY
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision to approve issuance of an additional state guarantee for Contract on Amendment No.2 to Loan Contract of April 26, 2012 between the “Motorways of Republika Srpska” Public Company and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Banja Luka – Doboj, Phase I).
It is a BIH guarantee for the additional loan form the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to the Motorways of Republika Srpska Public Company in amount of EUR 10 million, with a sub-guarantee by Republika Srpska.
CONSTRUCTION OF MOTORWAY ZENICA NORTH AND ZENICA TUNNEL ON CORRIDOR V c
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Financial Contract (Corridor V c Zenica North) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank (EIB), worth EUR 50 million.
The project refers to construction of two new sections of 2.8 km long motorway, for 120km/h planned speed, with 2x2 lanes and separate 9.20m-wide pavements, including a 2.4 km-long tunnel with the belonging structure between Ponirak and Vraca in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is about a motorway section in the Zenica-Doboj canton on the Pan-European Corridor V c, linking Hungary and Croatia with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Loan term is 25 years, including a six-year grace period, with allocation to the Federation of BIH.
The project total value is EUR 101 million, of which the EIB loan amounts to EUR 50 million, EBRD loan is EUR 26 million, WBIF Investment Grant is EUR 15.9 million, and the federation of BIH and Motorways Public Company participate with EUR 9-1 million.
The Proposal Contract with Platform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
EUR 36 MILLION SECURED FOR CONTINUATION OF CONSTRUCTION OF CORRDIOR V c MOTORWAY
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development for the Motorway Project Nemila – Donja Gračanica, which secures about EUR 36 million for the continuation of the Zenica By-Pass construction towards the North on the Corridor V c.
About EUR 5 million of domestic resources were intended for land expropriation and design of the 2.5 km long Nemila-Donja Gračanica Sub-Section.
The Loan term is 20 years with five-year grace period, with allocation to the Federation of BIH.
The Proposal Loan Agreement with Planform for its conclusion will be provided to the BIH Presidency, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
TO REMOVE OBSTACLES TO VINE EXPORT FROM BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information on an Initiative for change at the list of protected names of vines originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina, referred in Part B, Addendum II of Protocol 7 to the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement.
The Directorate for European Integrations will send the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Initiative for amendment and supplement to the Part B Addendum II to Protocol 7 to the SAA to the Stabilisation and Accession Board for further consideration.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations launched the Initiative for the reason of removing obstacles faced by BIH producers while exporting vine to the Republic of Croatia, as the EU member. This way, the definition of region, sub-region and vineyard in Addendum II to Protocol 7 to SAA would be extended and harmonised with the valid Regulation on definition and demarcation of vineyard regions in BIH.
TO DEFINE IPARD OPERATIVE STRUCTURE
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will, in cooperation with responsible Entity, Cantonal and Brčko District of BIH authorities, continue activities aimed at definition of IPARD programme implementation operative structure.
This was concluded following consideration of information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on setting-up IPARD operative structure, to be adopted at today’s session.
Information says that although certain results were achieved and agreement reached for use of the EU pre-accession funds for agriculture and rural development under IPA II package, an agreement still is needed to be achieved at the highest BIH authority level on establishment of IPAD structure.
The key precondition was met in early 2018 when BIH Institutions adopted the Bosnia and Herzegovina Strategic Plan for Rural Development, which confirmed very good cooperation among all responsible institutions in BIH.
The EU pre-accession funds for agriculture and rural development in BIH will promote sustainability and competitiveness of households active in agriculture and primary production of food, and progressive harmonisation of their production with EU relevant standards.
TO IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES ON DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYMNET STRATEGY
The Council of Ministers adopted Information on activities implemented for drafting an employment strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the next four-year time span.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs was tasked to continue without delay, considering making use of financial support available under IPA II, its activities on drafting the 2018-2021employment strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council of Ministers urges all responsible Ministries of Republika Sprksa to take part in the BIH employment strategy drafting.
The European Commission earlier informed the competent Ministries in BIH that it expects to receive an employment strategy for the whole country. Further delay in adoption of the strategic document, Bosnia and Herzegovina risks to lose EUR 20-30 million of IPA support for the area.
EUR 2.9 MILLION WITHDRAWN FORM HORIZON PROGRAMME
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European Commission Framework Programme for Research and Development – Horizon 2020 (H2020) and activities implemented for the sake of increase of successfulness of participation in the Programme.
In 2017, Bosnia and Herzegovina sent for the Horizon 2020 Programme 196 credible applications involving 269 applicants, and approved were 23 projects to include 38 institutions. The total amount withdrawn thus far was EUR 2.9 million.
The Council of Ministers of BIH approved KM 444.000 grant at annual level to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for each 2016 and 2017 as a support to writing proposal projects for Horizon 2020, as well as for the increase of successfulness level in the Programme participation.
Last year a financial support was provided for printing guide for Horizon 2020. A continuous effort takes place on promotion of successful institutions from BIH in the Programme, support to domestic entities in seeking for partners outside Bosnia and Herzegovina for joint projects, intensification of activities for organisation of advertising events, in cooperation with the European Commission and other competent institutions.
CONDITIONS CREATED FOR DECISION TAKING EFFECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH tasked the Indirect Taxation Administration to take immediate activities to publish a Decision on conditions and procedure for exercising right to releasing of import and export fees in the „Official Gazette of BIH”, in order for it to take effect.
Previously it was concluded that the Indirect Taxation Administration should harmonise the decision-contained definition of residence with the Law on Customs Policy in BIH, which would create conditions for the decision to take effect.
Under the Decision, import fees are not to be paid for equipment used in production, and citizens are enabled to bring in BIH, in personal language, commodities worth KM 600.00, instead of previously KM 200.00.
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