Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 167th Session

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Transport, Maritime Transport and Telecommunications of Montenegro and Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Republic of Albania for the reconstruction and modernisation of Sarajevo - Podgorica – Tirana road (R2b), and adopted a Report from negotiations. 

The proposer, Ministry of Communications and Transport, will provide the Proposal Memorandum to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport is proposed as BIH signatory of the Memorandum.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Revised eSEE Agenda + for Information Society Development in South-East Europe 2007-2012.

The proposer, Ministry of Communications and Transport, will provide the Proposal Basics to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and the Minister of Communications and Transport is proposed as BIH signatory of the Revised Agenda. The Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked to implement relevant Agreement pursuant to the Constitutional competences of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined proposal basics for conclusion of Protocol between the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Administration of Montenegro on Cooperation in Forensic Investigations.

The proposer, Ministry of Security, will provide the Proposal basics to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Amendment 1 of the Finance Contract, concluded between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank, on Nov. 26, 2009 – Loan of the Investment-Development Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Small and Medium Enterprises (FI 25.254), with basics for conclusion of the Amendment 1 of the Finance Contract.

The proposer, Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Amendment 1 of the Finance Contract to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury is proposed as BIH signatory of the Contract.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of a Contract on Legal Status of the Regional Centre for Environmental Protection for Central and Eastern Europe.

The proposer, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs is proposed as BIH signatory of the contract.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined the following individual proposal decisions on ratification of international treaties:

-          Proposal decision on ratification of a Finance Agreement between KfW, Frankfurt and Main, Germany, and Government of the Swiss Confederation, represented by the State Secretariat for Economic Relations (SECO, and Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (beneficiary) for EUR 900,000 for expert services provision to the beneficiary for preparation of the “Water Supply and Waste Water Management in BIH II” Programme (Tuzla, Zenica, Travnik), financed under special funds of the German Government (No. 212 K 2012-0026/125) and funds from Swiss Government;

-          Proposal decision on ratification of a Contract between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania on settling the debt of the Republic of Albania and clearing of amounts on accounts for goods exchange between the Republic of Albania and former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia;

-          Proposal decision on ratification of a Finance Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission concerning multi-beneficiary programme Tempus within IPA component for support in transition and institution building for 2010;

-          Proposal decision on ratification of a Grant Agreement within the 2009 IPA State Programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina – Infrastructure for Water and Waste Waters between the European Investment Bank and Bosnia and Herzegovina;

-          Proposal decision on ratification of an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Macedonia on Education and Science.

The proposer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will provide the Proposal Decisions to the Presidency of BIH for adoption.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted an initiative for negotiations for conclusion of a Loan Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Europe Development Bank for financing of the Plava Voda Regional Water Supply Pipeline Construction Project.

In regard to that, a negotiating delegation was appointed as follows:

-          Minister of Finance and Treasury, or an authorised person;

-          Manager of Public Company Regional Water Supply Pipeline Plava Voda, or an authorised person;

-          Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of BIH, or an authorised person;

-          Minister of Finance of Federation BIH, or an authorised person.

Following the negotiations, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will, in compliance with Article 39 paragraph (4) of the Law on Borrowing, Debt and Guarantees (“Official Gazette of BIH, Nos. 52/05 and 103709”), provide a Draft Loan Agreement and basics for its conclusion to the Council of Ministers.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on allocation of a part of funds collected from over flights (en route), in 2011 for settling of liabilities under the EBRD Loan No. 35288 in 2011.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, the Council of Ministers took a Decision on defining wage supplements for employees of the Directorate for Civil Aviation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an obligation to include recommendations under point 2 of the Opinion of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury into the Decision.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of BIH made a Conclusion on implementation of an Agreement on Succession Issues Annex “B”, and tasked the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its implementation.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on approval of allocation of KM 41000 from current Budget reserves to the Institute for Accreditation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on appointment of Floriencio Padarnela as an Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Philippines and on granting its consent for opening of the Honorary Consular Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the seat in Manila.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on appointment of Sagadyld uulu Zhanybek as an Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Kirgizstan Philippines and on granting its consent for opening of the Honorary Consular Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the seat in Bishkek.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on appointment of Hachem Hachem as an Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Arab Republic of Syria and on granting its consent for opening of the Honorary Consular Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the seat in Damascus.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on extension of term of Ahmed Jamil Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on appointment of Jacek Günther Ślaski as an Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of Poland and on granting its consent for opening of the Honorary Consular Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the republic of Poland with the seat in Poznanje.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on issuance of a state guarantee in a form of guarantee contract for a loan for the Sarajevo International Airport between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for an amount of KM 25,000,000.00.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry for Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on setting annual quota for work permits for employment of foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2012.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on a proposal for launching accession process of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union MEDIA 2007 Programme, and concluded the following:

-          The Council of Ministers confirms the interest for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s participation in the MEDIA 2007 Programme;

-          The Ministry of Civil Affairs is in charge to start a procedure of accession to the MEDIA 2007 Programme, and in regard to that the Minister of Civil Affairs of BIH is tasked to send a letter of interest for participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the MEDIA 2007 Programme to the European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture;

-          Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina is marked as a holder of activities related to the accession and participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the MEDIA 2007 Programme, which include leading of negotiations on accession to the Programme, signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for participation in the Programme and coordination of activities with the competent Entity Ministries;

-          Resources should be secured from the IPA funds for financial contribution of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the MEDIA 2007 Programme.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Execution of Framework Law on Pre-school Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator Office on activities on the “Programme Development for Decision Making Quality Improvement in BIH Administration”, with proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on activities of the Work Group for Activities Coordination in Tourism for January-June 2011, with proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on application of tariff index activities of the Work Group for Activities Coordination in Tourism for January-June 2011, with proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on submitting of application for membership in the EU and on needed preparations for provision of responses to a questionnaire of the European Commission, with proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information on findings and recommendations of the European Commission contained in a Progress Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2011 and Enlargement Strategy and Key Challenges 2011-2012, and in regard to that it concluded the following:

-          Ministries and other administrative bodies are tasked to consider the European Commission progress Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2o11 and Enlargement Strategy and Key Challenges 2011-2012, after the Directorate for European Integrations translate and distribute them;

-          Ministries and other administrative bodies are tasked to incorporate into their 2012 Work Plans activities on overcoming deficiencies detected in the progress report and Enlargement Strategy and Key Challenges 2011-2012.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on the implementation status of projects financed though the State Package of IPA 2007, IPA 2008, IPA 2009, and IPA 2010, based on conclusions from the 3^rd meeting of IPA Monitoring Committee, and concluded the following:

-          All relevant institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, covered by the IPA projects implementation referred to in Information, are tasked to report, upon a request of the Directorate for European Integrations, on implementation status of projects;

-          All institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, covered by the IPA projects implementation, are tasked to undertake without delay all activities from their competences in order to allow smooth implementation of project activities or minimisation and removal of project implementation related risks, and to report to the Directorate for European Integrations on relevant activities within 30 days.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on holding of the 2^nd meeting of the SAA Structured Dialogue on Justice in Sarajevo, on Nov. 10 and 11, 2011, with proposed conclusions.

The Ministry of Justice is tasked to prepare proposal new decision, specifying precisely future Bosnia and Herzegovina - EU Structured Dialogue on Justice.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations concerning the preparation for the 4^th meeting of Interim Sub-Board for Energy, Environment and Regional Development (part I), held  on Nov. 15, 2011, with proposed conclusions.

The Council of Ministers of BIH received Information on termination of mandate of Board members of the Agency for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education.

In regard to hat, the Ministry of Civil Affairs is tasked to issue job competition for election of Board members of the Agency for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted a Semi-Annual Progress Report (Implementation Monitoring of the BIH Public Administration Reform Strategy Action Plan 1) of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator Office for January-June 2011, with a reference to 2006-2011 period – new text.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted an Activity Report of the Committee for Coordination of Youth Issues in BIH for the period of January 1 – June 30, 2011.

The Council of Ministers of BIH is informed of a document titled Economic Trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Annual Report for 2010, prepared by the Directorate for Economic Planning.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted an Analysis of Annual Foreign Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for January-June 2011, prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Rulebook on internal deployment of employees in the Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Husein Nanić as Manager of the Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, by majority vote, a Proposal Amendment to Article 2 of a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Residence and Domicile of Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which refers to Article 8 of the Law basic text.

The Secretariat General is in charge to provide the Proposal Amendment to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined, by majority vote, a Proposal Amendment to Article 4 of a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Identity Card of Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which refers to Article 6 of the Law basic text.

The Secretariat General is in charge to provide the Proposal Amendment to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH is informed of conclusions adopted by the Presidency of BIH at its 14^th session of October 26, 2011, and in regard to that it concluded the following:

-          Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees is tasked for implementation of the Presidency conclusion under 2) for appointing a committee for refugees and displaces persons of BIH;

-          Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked for implementation of the presidency conclusion under 3) for preparation of a report on the level of revenues from fees for over flights over BIH territory for January 1 – June 30, 2011;

-          Ministry of Communications and Transport is tasked for implementation of the presidency  conclusion under 4) for preparation, together with the Directorate for Civil Aviation of BIH, a report on implementation of a Decision of the BIH Presidency in relation to amendment of sectoring of the BIH air space.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered an Initiative of the Collegiums of House of Peoples of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH which refers to a need for amendment and supplement to the Law on Single Identification Number - this regarding a Decision of the Constitutional Court of BIH No. U-3/11, of May 27, 2011.

In regard to that the Ministry of Civil Affairs is in charge to prepare a proposal amendment and supplement to the Law.

Upon a proposal of sector Ministries, the Council of Ministers of BIH defined answers to Deputies and Delegates’ questions and to an initiative as follows:

-          Answer to a question of Petar Kunić Deputy in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers of BIH;

-          Answer to a question of Krstan Simić Delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs;

-          Answer to a question of Danijela Martinović Deputy in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security;

-          Answer to a question of Denis Bećirović Deputy in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees;

-          Answer to a question of Staša Košarac Delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees;

-          Answer to a question of Zijad Jagodić Delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport; and

-          Answer to a question of Mato Franjičević Deputy in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH, upon a proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH;

The Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers is tasked to provide Ministry’s answers to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH.

The Council of Ministers of BIH considered and adopted Information of the Ministry of Communications and Transport on implementation of the Air Space Management Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (status as at February 10, 2011), with proposed conclusions.

In compliance with a conclusion of the Council of Ministers from its 86^th session of May 7, 2009, adopted in relation with a Position of the Presidency of BIH regarding the issue of legality of documents in possession of Kosovo citizens, the Council of Ministers authorised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue entry visas on a separate sheet as follows:

-          To Kosovo citizens for the reason of medical treatment within the Sweden-sponsored IOM Medical Programme;

-          To a Kosovo citizen for the reason of family reunion;

-          To a Kosovo citizen for his participation at teh great Britain-organised Regional Conference in Sarajevo, on November 29, 2011;

-          To a Kosovo citizen for his participation at a World vision-organised Regional Conference in Sarajevo, on November 25-December 5, 2011;

The Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers is in charge to provide the conclusions of visa issuance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for further procedure.

Ministries in the Council of Ministers are obliged to attend a presentation of the Proposal Coordination of European Integrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on December 8, 2011.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for starting a procedure for negotiations for conclusion of a Technical Arrangement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and State Department of the United States of America for assistance in destruction of light weapons and various sorts of ammunition.

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Technical Arrangement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and State Department of the United States of America for assistance in destruction of light weapons and various sorts of ammunition.

The Council of Ministers proposes to the Presidency of BIH to accept the Technical Arrangement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and State Department of the United States of America for assistance in destruction of light weapons and various sorts of ammunition and to appoint the Minister of Defence of BIH as a signatory.

The Council of Ministers proposes to the Presidency of BIH to approve the implementation of the Technical Arrangement as soon as it is signed.

(end).