Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 153rd Session
09/04/2018
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined and will send to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly for adoption a Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements of the Law on Patents, in which the area of patent protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being gradually harmonised with the existing EU acquis, which represents the fulfilment of a requirement from the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement.
The Amendments harmonise provisions of the existing Law on Patents, regulating the area of extended European patent, with Amendments of the European Patent Convention from year 2000 and Convention implementation resulting practice
The Supplements to the Law introduce a special chapter on the European patent, with an aim of harmonising the BIH legislation with the provisions of the European Patent Convention and meeting obligations of legislative nature for accession to the European Patent Convention (EPO). The Supplements introduce provisions for confidential invention and procedures by the Institute for Intellectual Property in case of receipt of a patent registration for invention that relates to national defence and security.
SAVINGS CONTINUE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Budget Execution Report of the BIH Institutions and International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January – June 2018. The total realised revenues in the first half of 2018 were KM 521,111,919 or 55% in relation to the plan. The higher level of financing in relation of the planned level came as a result of payment of succession proceeds in amount of KM 22 million.
The total realised expenditures and costs in the BIH Institutions Budget in the first half of 2018 were KM 434.065.115 or 46 per cent in relation to the 2018 Budget, without special purpose resources, or 36% in relation to the corrected Budget, which includes the additional special purpose resources.
This period of time saw continued saving on employees’ salaries and supplies costs, i.e. basic salaries, emoluments for food and vacation benefits, which remained at the same level as set in the second half of 2012, while additional savings were made at supplies costs. For foreign debt servicing, KM 443.45 million were paid, by which all liabilities undertaken were serviced. As to the mentioned serviced debt, KM 383.85 million was paid for the principal amounts (86.56%), and KM 59.61 million (13.44%) for interest, service and other fees.
In total serviced obligations, the Federation of BIH participated with KM 290.25 million (65.45%), Republika Srpska with KM 147.84 million (333.34 %), Brčko District with KM 2.81 million (0.63), and state-level institutions – direct BIH obligations - with KM 2.56 million (0.58%).
FUNDS FOR ITA ARCHIVES MOSTAR, PROTECTION OF DRINKING WATER SOURCE IN ILIDŽA, INFRASTRUCTURE IN SREBRENICA, SUPPORT TO CULTURAL PROJECTS IN BIH AND FOR ACCOMODATION OF BIH INSTITUTIONS IN EAST SARAJEVO
The Council of Ministers of BIH took decision to take funds from the clearing debt of the Russian Federation for financing the construction and furbishing of the Indirect Taxation Administration archive building in Mostar, protection of the drinking water source in Eastern Ilidža, infrastructure projects in Srebernica, support to cultural projects in BIH, and for purchase of facilities for accommodation of BIH Institutions in East Sarajevo, in total amount of KM 3.650.000, as follows:
- The Decision on approving a multi-year project “Construction and Furbishing of the archive facility in Mostar”, upon a proposal by the Indirect Taxation Administration – KM one million;
- Decision on approval of the Project for Protection of Drinking Water Source in Sarajevsko Polje from waste waters in the area of East Ilidža, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations - KM 450.000 for the completion of construction of sewage collector in the Vojkovići Community, Eastern Ilidža;
- Decision on approval of finds to the Municipality of Srebrenica for priority infrastructure projects, defined anonymously by the Municipality of Srebrenica – KM 500.000;
- Decision on approval of debt-collected funds from the Russian Federation under the Agreement on Succession Issues Annex C for support to cultural projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in amount of total KM 1.100.000 to be distributed to: the General National Museum of BIH – KM 500.000; Historical Museum of BIH – KM 250.000; Olympic Museum of BIH – KM 250.000; and Archives of BIH – KM 100.000;
- Decisions on Amendments and Supplements of a Decision on approval of purchase of facility for accommodation of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in East Sarajevo, to be included into the 2017-2019 multi-annual capital investments programme and on an Amendment and Supplement to a Decision on approval of purchase of facility for accommodation of the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in East Sarajevo. These Decisions amend both source and dynamics of funds provision for purchase of 1,200-1,500 m2 premises for accommodation of the BIH Institutions in East Sarajevo, still worth KM 3.000.000. The sources of financing are changed in the way that in 2018 an amount of KM 600.000 was added from the succession funds, based on collection of the clearing debt from the Russian Federation, while in 2019 the planed budget funds will be reduced by the same amount, so, instead of KM 1.000.000 it will be KM 400.000. So, out of the total KM 3.000.000 of the project cost, KM 1,600.000 will be secured from the succession funds, and 1.400.000 from the BIH Institutions Budget.
Following the adoption of the Decisions, KM 50,683.94 special purpose funds received from the clearing debt left undistributed.
The decisions taking was preceded by a consideration and adoption of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury Information on funds collected based on the Agreement on Succession Issues of the ex-SSSR – clearing debt. The clearing debt of the Russian federation of USD 125,157,834.38 was paid in a cash form, distributed according to the percentages established, namely for BIH Institutions 10%, for the Brčko District 3%, Federation of BIH 53%, and for Republika Srpksa 29%.
Out of total amount available to the BIH Institutions (KM 20.700.683.94), KM 17,000.000 was distributed under earlier decisions for: construction of the Bratunac - Ljubovija border crossing (KM 7,000.000); building purchase for accommodation of BIH Institutions in Sarajevo (KM 4,000.000); for project plan, rehabilitation, reconstruction and up-building of the “Zrak” facility in Sarajevo for accommodation of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies (KM 3.000.000); for purchase of buildings for accommodation of BIH Institutions in Sarajevo and Mostar, KM 1 million each; and for up-building of the customs sub-system of the Indirect Taxation Administration IT system.
MIGRATION SITUATION
The Council of Ministers took note of the Ministry of Security-proposed Information concerning migrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in connection with an increased inflow of migrants to BIH. At the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in time between January 1, 2018 and September 2, 2018 the Foreigners’ Affairs Service registered 12,396 illegal migrants. An intention to apply for asylum in BIH was stated by 11,491 persons, while 1,097 applied for asylum. The major part of migrants comes from Pakistan (4,184), Syria (1,840), Iran (1,694), Afghanistan (1.246), and Iraq (1,038).
PROLONGED DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION OF HOSPITAL IN RS PROJECT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Amendment No. 2 to a Financial Contract between Bosnia and the European Investment Bank, concluded in Luxembourg on Oct. 5, 2011 and in Sarajevo on Oct. 25, 2011 for the Hospital in RS/A Project. The Amendment prolongs the deadline to June 30, 2019 for withdrawal of EUR 346.000 of unspent funds, which will be used for drafting a Feasibility Study for construction of Technical-Economic block of the University-Hospital Centre Banja Luka.
The Proposal Amendment with Platform for its conclusion was be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
AGREEMENT IN SEURITY PROGRAMME WITH MICROSOFT
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on Government Security Programme between the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BIH and Microsoft Corporation, in order to set-up a framework to enable Bosnia and Herzegovina to approach products and security resources of Microsoft. Endorsing the Agreement will contribute to a higher confidence in Microsoft basic products and services in the sense that there will be no “side entries” and that the products of this Corporation were made in compliance with all security requirements. The endorsement of the Agreement is on a non-commercial basis, and currently there are 28 governments around the world that signed the Agreement.
The Proposal Agreement will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport was proposed for the BIH signatory.
FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and designated a negotiating delegation for conclusion of a Guarantee Contract for a Credit Line of the Deposit Insurance Agency of BIH between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The EUR 30 million Credit Line will be directed to capacity building of the Deposit Insurance Fund, so that the financial sector stability would be additionally secured.
These are credits that the EBRD approves on eight years term, with five-year grace period, and fixed annual interest rate of 1%. The Deposit Insurance Agency has legal capacity to take debt and repay it.
HARMONISATION OF REGULATIONS WITH ACQUIS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information by the BIH Directorate for European Integrations (DEI) harmonisation level of Bosnia and Herzegovina regulations with the EU acquis for the time period from 2003 to Dec. 31, 2017. All BIH Institutions are responsible to intensify their activities at additional harmonization of legislation with the existing acquis. The process of harmonisation of BIH legislation with the acquis, which is currently on-going, together with both political and economic stability, is of crucial importance for all Institutions of BIH.
According to framework indices from 2003 to Dec 31, 2017, the BIH Institutions provided to the BIH DEI 1407 regulations for an opinion, out of which 579 were in the process of harmonisation with the acquis, and 440 regulations were adopted. The Parliamentarian Assembly adopted 55 pieces of law, Council of Ministers of BIH adopted 217 regulations and managers and expert bodies of individual institutions adopted 168 regulations.
By this, 600 EU regulations were taken up, of which 168 are in effect, so it comes necessary for the BIH Institutions for move on amendments and supplements of BIH regulations, in order to harmonise them with the existing acquis.
(end)