Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 38th Session
01/10/2016
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of the progress made thus far in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Reform Agenda Action Plan implementation in all domains of the Council of Ministers’ exclusive competence.
At the level of the Council of Ministers Until December 8, total realised were 17 general measures within planned deadlines, which improve considerably the state of affairs in public finances, taxation and fiscal sustainability, business climate, rule of law, good governance and public administration reform fields.
CoM BIH CONDEMNS YOUTH PEER VIOLENCE
The Council of Ministers of BIH condemned peer youth violence, following a tragic suicide of Mahir Rakovac, and requested competent institutions in BIH to intensify activities preventing violence in schools and child rights protection
The Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees are tasked to react promptly in cooperation with relevant all-level authorities in order to take all needed measures at prevention of any form of peer violence and for protection of child’s best interest, and to report regularly their activities to the Council of Ministers.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees are also tasked to cooperate with competent all-level institutions in BIH to improve the work of education institutions, so as to ensure maximum application of general education standards, including education and child protection awareness raising measures in society generally.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport and Communications Regulatory Agency will cooperate with other institutions to supress nay form of language of hatred at Internet social networks, audio-visual and other media, and will ensure a strict compliance with Code on Audio-visual media services and radio programme services.
EUR 6.5 MILLION GRANT FOR SEWAGE PROJECT IN BIJELJINA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for negotiations on a grant assistance arrangement under the ORIO programme for both the phase of implementation and phase of operation and maintenance.
The sewage pipeline designing and construction project, in addition to waste water treatment facility installation for in the city of Bijeljina was arranged between the Ministry of Foreign and Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of Norway and Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH.
This EUR 6.5 million worth grant, allocated to Republika Srpska, will fund the project to solve the issue of sewage pipeline and drainage systems in the city of Bijeljina.
The Proposal Basic will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury was proposed for the BIH signatory.
IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTEMENTS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for conclusion of a Convention between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on double taxation avoidance and prevention of tax evasion for income and property taxes, with a Protocol, to be provided to the BIH Presidency, while the Minister of Finance and Treasury of BIH was proposed for the BIH signatory.
Double taxation avoidance and prevention of tax evasion create better conditions for a transfer of knowledge, capital, labour and direct foreign investments between the two states.
LAST YEAR’S ODA ASISTANCE REACHED EUR 770.6 MILLION
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury titled “Donor Activity Review 2014”, which gives a comprehensive insight into projects and programmes implementation in 2014, financed by the Donor Forum Coordination , including an analysis of status and reforms in six sectors in BIH., namely, judiciary and internal affairs, public administration reform, private sector development, transport and energy infrastructure, environmental protection and climate change and social development sector.
Official Development Assistance total EUR 770.6 million was committed in 2014, of which EUR 199.63 in form of grants and EUR 570.97 in form of loans.
ODA assistance in 2014 increased for EUR 104.89 million, compared to year 2013, partially as a result of prompt donor reaction to last year’s May floods, and in this laons prevailed over grant.
The major lander were the European Investment Bank (EIB, World Bank (WB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Financial Corporation (IFC), while the European Union, Sweden/SIDA, United State of America/USAID, Germany, Switzerland and UNPD provided for the majority of grants.
The major portion of international development aid last year was committed for the environmental protection and climate change sector, 39 per cent, transport and energy infrastructure sector 22 per cent and private sector development 19 per cent, and the least for social development sector 13 per cent.
PURCHASE OF DIPLOMATIC CONSULAR FACILITIES AFTRE BERLIN IN BELGRADE AND ZAGREB
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on multi-year capital project - purchase, adaptation and furnishing of diplomatic-consular offices of Bosnia and Herzegovina of total value of KM 5.810.443,54.
Funds secured from the Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH will be used for purchase of diplomatic-consular offices of BIh in Belgrade and Zagreb, after a purchase was made in Berlin, and facilities were adapted in London, Ottawa, Amman, Stuttgart and heating system rehabilitated in Brussels and facilities furnished in London, Belgrade, Zagreb and Oslo.
HARMONISATION OF BIH REGUALTIONS WITH EU ACQUIS IN ENVIROMENT PROTECTION AREA
The Council of Ministers of BIH endorsed an Initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations for accession to a Protocol on Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA Protocol), with a Convention on Environment Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention), ratified earlier by Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This is a considerable move forward for BIH in the European Union approximation process and accompanying BIH regulations harmonisation process with the EU acquis. The conclusion of the Protocol will improve environmental protection in BIH, including health protection, and will advance relevant legislation.
NEW DECISION ON AWARDING DESERVING SPORTSPERSONS
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, annulling a decision on level of money benefit to deserving athletes of Bosna and Herzegovina and athletes of international ranking, since the benefits have not been paid after 2010, when ta relevant decision was taken for that year only.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs is currently in the process of development of new regualtions on categorisation of athletes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will regulate the elvel of cash benefits.
Dealing with the issue was initiated by the BIH Attorney’s Office of the reason of avoiding further court litigations and costs for incompliance to court decisions, as the relevant decision became null and void after the end of 2010, when its application ceased.
REIMBURSEMENT TO DISCIPLINARY PANEL IN POLICE BODIES DEFIEND
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, proposed by the Ministry of Security of BIH, to set a cash reimbursement and its levels for engagement in the Disciplinary Panel for Asserting Police Officers Disciplinary Responsibility in Police Bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to secure normal function of these panels.
According to the Decision, cash reimbursement will be paid out for work beyond official worktime ti chair and members of disciplinary panel under the State Investigations and Protection agency, Border Police of BIH and Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies after completion of first degree disciplinary procedure, in amount of KM 40,00 for hair and KM 30,00 for panel members.
TO CONTINUE ACTIVITIES OF JOINT INTEREST IN TOURISM SECTOR
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on activities of a Work Group for coordination of activities in the area of tourism in BIH for 2015, and tasked the Work Group to embrace on realisation of panned activities for the next period of time in accordance with initiatives of joint interest of competent tourism sector institutions.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations will pass the conclusion to the competent Entity Ministries, Brčko District Government and other stakeholder institutions for the purpose of their implementation.
Earlier, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on implementation of JICA projects “International Touristic Corridor in Herzegovina and Environmental Protection” for 2015, implemented with a view at development of sustainable tourism and attraction of foreign tourists primarily from the neighbouring countries, Montenegro and Croatia visiting the Adriatic Coast.
One among results of the project is the establishment of a new tourist product “Herzegovina’s route of herbs and bee honey”, and regional connectivity centres were set-up in Tuli, Trebinje, Ljubinje and Stolac (Radimlja).
TO INTENSIFY ACTIVIITES TOWARS SBMISSION OF CREDIBLE APPLICATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a conclusion from the 17th regular session of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, pertaining to a report on preparedness of Bosnia and Herzegovina for submission of application for membership in the European Union.
Competent institutions intensified their respective activities so that Bosnia and Herzegovina might submit a credible application to be approved immediately.
APPOINTED MANAGER OF INSTITUTE FOR MEASUREMENT OF BIH
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Zijad Džemić Manager of the Institute for Measurement of BIH, taking into consideration an opinion of the Civil Service Agency, as the most successful candidate a t a public job vacancy ad.
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