Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 44th Session

BIH ADJUSTS ITS ENVIRONMENTAL REGUALTIONS WITH EU ACQUIS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal  Basics for negotiations on accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA Protocol) to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a  Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention). This way, BIH adjusts its relevant regulations with acquis within the process of accession to the European Union.

The Protocol should improve environmental protection in BIH a and health, as well as legislative policy in the area, in addition to timely securing a capability to affect and presume consequences of certain strategies to environment, and this all with getting the public involved in the process.

The Ministry of foreign Trade and Economic relations will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations was proposed for the BIH signatory thereof.

 

UP TO EUR 30 MILLION TO SMEs OR MUNICPALITIES’ DISPOSAL

 

The Council of Ministers took a conclusion, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, confirming the allocation of a European Investment Bank to “Raiffeisen Bank, jsc BIH”, in accordance with a Framework Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank, which regulated the European Investment Bank activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the conclusion, the European Investment Bank gives a EUR 300 million loan for subsidiary landing to SMEs or municipalities for implementation of projects in the area of energy efficacy, infrastructure, industry, trade and services and environmental protection and improvement in BIH.

 

ABOUT 85% COMMUNICATION STRATEGY ACTIVITIES REALISED WITHIN EU ACCESSION PROCESS

 

The Council of Ministers adopted information on implementation of a Communication Strategy for raising public awareness on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process in 2015.

The Directorate for European Integrations will continuously carry out activities, in accordance with the Strategy implementation plan, which pertains to promotion of the European integrations processes in country in 2016, with its results to be reported the Council of Ministers of BIH.  The Directorate for European Integrations will, in cooperation with relevant institutions, prepare a proposal action plan for realisation of the Communication Strategy for public awareness on the process of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s accession to the European Union in 2017, which will be provided to the Council of Ministers of BIH for consideration and adoption.

The information suggests about 85 % of goals under the 2015 Communication Strategy were fulfilled, while activities will be intensified  and focused to informing the public on advantages the EU membership is to bring along.

 

ACTVITTY REPORTS FOR LAST YEAR AND WORK PROGRAMMES FOR THIS YEAR ADOPTED

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted individual activity reports for 2015 filled-in by the Institute for Intellectual Property, Direction for Coordination of Police Bodies f BIH, Agency for Police Support, Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office, Identification Documents, Evidence and Data Exchange Agency of BIH, Agency for High Education Development and Quality Insurance, BIH Border Police, BIH Civil Service Appellation Committee, Police Officers Appellation Committee, and Anti-doping Control Agency.

Also adopted were individual 2016 work programmes of the following institutions: Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies; BIH Agency for Labour and Employment; BIH Food Safety Agency; Agency for High Education Development and Quality Insurance; Foreign Investments Promotion Agency, with some corrections made at the session;  BIH Competition Council, with some corrections made at the session;  BIH Police Support  Agency; Directorate for European Integrations; State Investigations and Protection Agency; Statistics Agency of BIH; State Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety; Forensic Research and Investigations Agency; Anti-Doping Control Agency; General Affairs Service of BIH Institutions, with corrections made a the session; and of Council of Ministers of BIH Legislation Office.

 

ITA Director in Office until Selection of New One

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH authorised Director of the Indirect Taxation Administration Miro Džakula to continue his function of  a director after the expiry of his mandate, on February 23, 2016, until the completion of a public vacation procedure for selection of a  new director.

The Council of Ministers tasked the General Affairs Service of BIH Institutions, at its 42^nd session, to start the procedure for selection and appointment of a new director of the Indirect Taxation Administration.

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