Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 42nd Session

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on approval of use and definition of modality of realisation of funds for co-financing of Wold Male Junior Handball Championship 2013. 

Under the decision, KM 250,000.00 will be allocated to the Handball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of hosting of the World Male Junior Handball Championship. The Ministry y of Civil Affairs and the Handball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will conclude an agreement to govern the monitoring of spending of the approved funds. The Handball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina will report to the Ministry of Civil Affairs the specific spending of the allocated funds.

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision on criteria for distribution of current grants, approved to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic relations for support to fair events in country and abroad in 2013.

The decision sets forth conditions, criteria and modus of distribution of grant funds for fair events in country in amount of KM 100,000.00 and abroad in amount of KM 50,000.00, planned under the Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for 2013.

The right to receive funds for support to in country fair events is to fair hosts meeting the following requirements: a) years-long experience in fair organisation; b) fair is an international event; c) filled written declaration of reducing participation costs of domestic companies pro rata to the received grant funds.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Activity Report of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2012, and tasked the Secretariat General to provide it to the Parliamentarian Assembly.

The Report reads that in the last year, out of planned 769, total 483 program assignments, or 63%, were implemented.

The highest percentage of realisation was made by the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees (74%), Ministry of Foreign trade and Economic Relations (73%) and Ministry of Civil Affairs 871%9.

During the reported period, the Council of Ministers defined 30 proposal laws provided to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BIH for further procedure, while five analyses were adopted, 186 decisions taken, adopted or consented to 58 books of procedure. Also, 75 proposal contracts, agreements protocols and MoUs were defined , in addition to 92 proposal basics for conclusion of international treaties. The council of Ministers also defined 84 proposal decisions on ratification of international treaties and adopted 180 reports from different sectors.

In 2012, the Council of Ministers focused at fulfilment of commitments BIH assumed based on accession to a full membership of the council of Europe, and commitments stemming from the Interim Agreement/Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, including commitments BIH is to fulfil in order to success NATO.

Main activities enfolded for ensuring further BIH progress in the EU integrations process and for creation of conditions necessary for the SAA to take force, further to fulfilment of the non-visa regime related requirements.

The Council of Ministers of BIH confirmed proposal basics for negotiations for conclusion of a memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia. The proposal basics will be sent to the Presidency of BIH for further procedure, and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is proposed as the BIH signatory od the Memorandum on Cooperation.

The conclusion of the Memorandum will provide for a legal framework for further cooperation between the two states in the process of harmonisation of legislation in the areas of agriculture, rural development, food safety, veterinary service and phytosanitary protection with the relevant EU legislation.

In order to coordinate activities and realise aims defined in the Memorandum, a joint technical team will be set-up to meet alternately in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Republic of Croatia.

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Annual Progress Report on Implementation of the Revised Action Plan 1 (RAP1) of the Strategy of Public Administration Reform in BIH in 2012.

The Report describes evident progress in the implementation of the revised Action Plan 1, divided into six reform areas and implemented at State level, in FBIH and RS, and in Brčko District.

The report indicates a considerable continuous progress achieved in implementation of the revised Action Plan activities and goals in the area of “Institutional Communication”, while a limited progress in implementation of goals for 2012 was achieved in the areas of “Strategic Planning, Policy Coordination and Development”, “Human Resources Management” and “E-Administration”.

Only a small progress was made in the areas of “Public Finances” and “Administrative Procedures and Administrative Services”.

Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to establish a work group for development of a proposal law on amendments and supplements to the Law on Border Control.

The Wok group would be comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Security of BIH, Ministry and foreign Affairs, BIH Border Police, Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, Indirect taxation Administration of BIH and directorate for European Integrations of BIH.

The Work Group will be tasked to develop the proposal law on amendments and supplements to the law on border Police, by July 30, 2013, in order to adjust the Law with Border control related European standards. 

The amendments and supplements to the Law on Border Control need to be adopted to enable a full application of an Agreement between countries-parties to the North-Atlantic Treaty and other counties participating in the Partnership for Peace Programme concerning the legal status of their forces.

The Council of Ministers of BIH received Information on the status of Bijača and Gradiška border crossings.

The Indirect Taxation Administration of BIH and State Commission for Integrated Border Management are tasked to invest maximum efforts so that deadlines set for the construction of Bijača and Gradiška border crossings could be complied with.

The State Commission for Integrated Border management is tasked to regularly inform the Council of Ministers of BIH of the status and situation with these border crossings, and the reports will be discussed by the Council of Ministers of BIH continuously.

The Council of Ministers of BIH received a Report of the Team for Development of European Integrations Process Coordination Mechanism for Harmonisation.

The team leader is tasked to provide to Entity Governments all versions of proposed solutions for the establishment of the coordination mechanism.

It was concluded that the chairman of the Council of Ministers of BIH should organise a meeting with the Entity Prime Ministers and Team leader for the purpose of reaching an agreement on still non-agreed issues concerning the coordination mechanism.

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