Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 60th Session
06/14/2016
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Secretariat-General f the Cou8cnil of Ministers is responsible to pass the information to the BIH Parliamentarian Assembly.
Quarter BIH Budget Execution within Planned Values
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on Budget Execution of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international obligations of BIH for the time period January-March 2016.
Total collected revenues and financial support to the institutions i9n the QI 2016 were KM 217,733,183 or 23% of total planned revenues for 3016.
Without accounting one-time paid sums (revenues made from the Central Bank profits), the total revenues collected maybe assessed as reaching one fourth of planned revenues.
Total collected revenues from indirect taxes from the Single Indirect Taxation Administration Account of BIH Institutions in Jan-March 2016 were KM 185,328,128 or 25% of total planned revenues.
In the same period of time, the foreign debt servicing allocated revenues were KM 130,169.559, making it total revenues intended for financing of BIH institutions and servicing BIH international obligations amounting to KM 347,707,159.
Total realised revenues and expenditures of the BIH Institutions Budget in Jan. 1 – March 31, 2016 wee KM 209,345,209 or 22% in relation to the BIH Budget 2016, without special purpose funds, or 7% in relation to the revised budget, including the additional special purpose funds. Total expenditures and costs of the BIH Institutions were realised in an amount higher than KM 4 million or 2% in relation to the same period last year, since there was no temporary financing of institutions at the BIH level in 2016.
As to the expenditures side, the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to the Letter of Intent for implementation f the IMF Stand-By Arrangement, continued to make savings in receivables and material expenditures in 2016, to, thee by the Bosnia and Herzegovina- level institutions fulfilled all the obligations agreed in the Letter of Intent to the end of realisation of the IMF Arrangement.
Information on Preparations for Beginning of Integrations Programme Development
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information on the preparations made thus far and on preconditions for the beginning of development of the EU Integrations Programme of BIH. The Directorate for European Integrations is responsible to organise the Programme drafting after meeting relevant preconditions, and to start activities on setting-up an information system for the Integrations Programme.
The Information suggests that the Programme drafting is a task for operative bodies (33 work groups), therefore certain structures need to be in place, competent for addressing outstanding issues to turn up both horizontally and vertically. Since the Programme should integrate a scheme of BIH legislation harmonisation with the EU acquis, all-level authorities of BIH should be included in its development. The key precondition for the Integration Programme development is to set-up appropriate bodies for an effective vertical coordination process of the European integrations of BIH, which should remain operative throughout the process.
The Integration Programme should be a shred programmatic document of all-level authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving as an appropriate instrument for the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement implementation, as well as a basis for fulfilment of all European integrations process -related requirements.
BIH Institutions’ Attachment to Forward t Brussels
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted, upon a proposal of the Directorate for European Integrations, an Attachment of Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2016 BIH Report and Report of Action Plan Measures Implementation for realisation of priorities set in 2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina Report - part pertaining to BIH Institutions obligations.
Simultaneously, the Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Report of Action Plan Measures Implementation for realisation of priorities set in 2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina Report – part pertaining to obligations of the Entities, Brčko District of BIH and cantons.
The Directorate for European Integrations will provide the attachment of BIH Institutions to te European Commission.
The Attachment of BIH Institutions contains relevant information on the progress achieved in BIH and relations between BIH and the European Unions, including BIH reaching of political and economic criteria and European standards. These are sublimed comprehensive information provided by competent state, entity, cantonal and Brčko District of BIH institutions for time between September 1, 2015 and May 11, 2016, pursuant to relevant methodology nd action plan.
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report filled by Hamdo Tinjak, head of BIH negotiating team, on completion of negotiations on adaptation of the Stabilisation and Accession Agreement, with accompanying conclusions and follow-up steps. The report was forwarded to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making and approval.
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs n a project of candidacy of a necropolis with medieval tomb stones for its inclusion into thee UNESCO world heritage list.
Stečci – Medieval Tombstones – are a unique monuments and they represent a part f a joint tradition and culture f peoples living in the territory of BIH, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Serbia and of Montenegro, which also participate in the project and give an extraordinary contribution t overall world cultural heritage. The major part of Stečci are in BIH , about 60,000, in Croatia about 4,400, in Montenegro about 3,500 and in Serbia about 41,00.
The World Heritage Committee will holds its 40th session on July 10-20, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, when it will be decided on the heritage to be included into the prestige World Heritage List.
Mutual Recognition of Car Drivers Licences of BIH and Italy
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement between the Council of Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Italy on mutual recognition oat replacement of drivers’ licences, with a view at facilitating road transport in the territories of the two states.
Under the Agreement, the contracting parties recognise mutually, for the purpose of replacement, valid drivers’ licences for the favour of their holders obtaining a permanent residence in the territory of the other state. A divers’ licence, issued by competent authorities of a contracting party, ceases to be valid at the territory of other party a year after its older obtains a right of permanent residence in the territory of the other contracting party. The drives’ licence may be replaced without taking theoretical and practical exams, except for special cases concerning disabled drivers.
A holder of BIH drivers’ licence may replace his drivers’ licence without taking exam only if he is Italian resident for more than four years at the moment of application for driver’s licence.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further procedure with a proposal of BIH signatory to be Minister Ismir Jusko.
EU Support to Cross-Border Cooperation and BIH Related Activity Programme
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on financing a Cross-Border Cooperation Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Activity Programme for 2015 between the European Commission, Government of the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The EU will finance a EUR 2,000,000 grant, a part of total estimated Programme value of EUR 2,352,941.
Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on financing a Cross-Border Cooperation Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro Activity Programme for 2015 between the European Commission, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Montenegro.
Total estimated costs of the Programme are EUR 1,411,765, and the major possible contribution from the EU to the Programme is EUR 1,200,000.
The cross-border activities under the both Agreements ae divided into thematic priorities, including the promotion of cross-border hiring, environment protection, support to tourism and technical assistance, the beneficiaries are the legal persons established within the IPA II Programme beneficiaries, participating in the cross-border cooperation programmes.
Prospective grants beneficiaries may be local governments with their institutions, associations, development agencies, organisations for support to local entrepreneurship, SMEs, touristic and cultural associations, research centres, public bodies responsible for water management, firefighting/emergency services etc.
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement on financing a State Activity Programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2015 between the EU and BIH, which defined EUR 37,200,000 of EU finances within total estimated State Activity Programme value of EUR 38,001,800.
The Agreement realisation term is 12 years; 6 years from its taking effect for the operative implementation.
An indicative strategic document IPA II is only focused to sectors having already agreed strategies and sufficient coordination level. The strategic documents, therefore cover the following sectors: democracy and governance; rule of law and basic rights; competition and innovations; local development strategies; and education and, welfare and employment policy..
The 2015 Activity Programme will be implemented in six projects within two sectors, namely, democracy and governance and rule of law and basic rights.
The three Proposal Agreements will be provided to the BIH Presidency for further procedure.
Grant to Support Cooperation with Diaspora
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refuges of BIH on criteria for allocation of grants to support municipalities, NGOs and associations for the implementation of the 2016-2020 Migration and Asylum Strategy in amount of KM 150,000,000.
The funds were secured from the regular Ministry’s 2016 budge. The grant funds are intended for local communities for capacity building in development cooperation with the diaspora, by way of using the potentials of the emigration for local development, boosting fo local economic development and inciting of njob creation with an active participation fo the emigration in realisation of project activities.
The Council of Ministers of BIH took decision on criteria for allocation of KM 50,000 rat funds to non-profit organisations for their emigration-oriented activities.
The grant will support the project referring to strengthening of cultural, education, economic and sports cooperation with the emigration, as well as to preserving identify, culture and mother tongue with the emigration.
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Communications’ and Transport, the Council of Ministers of BIH took aa decision to launch a public procurement procedure for serves of professional training f staff needed for the implementation of Phase I of taking over of navigation and control of air traffic in the BIH air space.
The estimated value of the procurement, without VAT, amounts EUR 18,000,000.00, and the funds would be secured from own revenues, i.e. though revenues of the Route and Terminal Fe Agency.
For a safe , regular and expedite air control service provision in the upper layer of BIH air space, a sufficient professionally trained and licensed air traffic control staff is needed to be secured, which is the major prerequisite of taking over the operations in the Phase II, and this is for the purpose of timely realisation of the BHATM Strategy, i.e. taking over the responsibility of service provision in the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s air space.
Decisions on Human and Animal Health Protection
The Council of Minister of BIH took a decision, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH, on authorising the Federal Institute for Agropedology to conduct analyses of mineral fertiliser quality for the purpose of official inspection of mineral fertilizer quality until December 31, 2017.
After the deadline, the Federal Institute for Agropedalogy will be able to conduct analyses for the purpose of official inspection of mineral fertilizer quality only by the parameters and methods accredited by the Accreditation Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Simultaneously, the Council of Minister of BIH took aa decision to abolish a Decision on ban of import of certain deliveries for the reason of prevention of taking into Bosnia and Herzegovina vesicular illness of pigs.
This decision abolishes the decision n a ban of import of pigs, pig meat and its products from certain regions in Italy and Portugal, because based on land animal code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the vesicular illness of pigs is no more listed as an illness relevant for international sales.
BIH Citizens Admission Based on Readmission Agreement
The Council of Minister of BIH adopted information of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees on integration of BIH citizens returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on a Readmission Agreement January 1 – December 31, 2015.
The Information indicates that three key results were made in establishment of a functional admission and integration system for BIH citizens returning based on the Readmission Agreement, and among other things adopted were the following documents new Strategy for admission and integration of BIH citizens returning based on the Readmission Agreement and 2015-2018 Action Plan; document clearly précising all responsibilities of institutional stakeholders; an effective coordination mechanism established among all included institutions and organisations; the included local communities were fully legally and institutionally capacitated for admission and integration of BIH citizens; the Ministry for Human Rights and Refuges received from the Ministry of Security a notification for 1,327 individuals whose return was announced, based on signed relevant bilateral readmission agreements.
Succession of Ex-SFRY: Apportioning of Diplomatic Consular Property
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BIH on holding of the 17th meeting of the Joint Committee for Annex B of the Agreement on Succession Issues of Ex-SFRY.
The Joint Committee meeting in Skoplje, which started on February 9, 2016 and was finalised on April 4-5 resulted in adopted and signed resolution.
The Information indicates that in the previous process of division of ex-SFRY diplomatic-consular property Bosnia and Herzegovina got valuable property and that in the up-coming sales process it expects a considerable gain due to real estate prices.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are tasked to secure conditions and organise a meeting of an Expert Group for distribution of pieces of art belonging to ex-SFRY.
The Ministry of Finance will prepare a provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH proposal decisions on a joint sales of buildings, defined for sales under a resolution of the Joint Committee of 2016. It is the Permanent Mission in UN in New York, residence apartment in New York, Embassy building in Bonn, embassy and residence building in Tokyo and embassy and residence building in Bern.
Simultaneously, the Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on implementation of the Annex B of the Agreement on Succession Issues of ex-SFRY and implementation of conclusions of the Council of Ministers of BIH in relation to parcel demarcation at the lot of ex-SFRY in Ankara and taking over of building of ex-SFRY in Ankara.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible to register the relevant property as the ownership of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to regulate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia the amount and manner of payment for the use of the object starting from January 1, 2012.
“Defence View” Document-Related Activities
The Council of Minister of BIH adopted Information of the Ministry if Defence on development of a “Defence View” document, in accordance with a programmatic objective from the Planning and Revision Process (PAP) – PG 0002 document.
Prior to providing the latest information to the Council of Ministers of BIH, the Ministry fi defence intensified its work on the document in order to find adequate solutions. It up-dated and consolidated chapters of the tentative document version.
A fully up-dated and consolidated were five “Defence View” chapters: Chapter I – Strategic Surrounding; Chapter II – Threats, Challenges and Risks; Chapter III – Planning elated Presumptions; Chapter IV – Planning Factors; and Chapter V – Currently Available Resources.
Introduction of Sector Budget Support Would Increase IPA II Allocation for BIH
The Council of Minister of BIH adopted Information of the Directorate for European Integrations on possibilities for use of a sector budget support within IPA II and on sector strategic documents needed for the use of IPA II, confirming the interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the use of sector budget support within IPA II.
The Directorate for European Integrations will notify the European Commission of the interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina for getting sector budget support for the employment area, and will request an adequate assistance for its preparation and realisation.
The information suggests that the European Commission has stressed on several occasions that the introduction of sector budget support enables the increase of the current IPA II allocations for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the specific increase might be as high as EUR 20 million. An important precondition for such type of support is development and adoption of a country public finances management strategy, as well as belonging whole-state sector strategies.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina is tasked to start preparations for use of sector budget support for the employment sector, which includes an adoption of the “Skill Vision 2020” for BIH and preparation and adoption of the whole-state sector employment strategy.
The Council of Minister of BIH granted its consent for appointment of aa military, maritime and aviation attaché pf Spain in BIH with is Q n Athens, military ship Captain Luie Otero Alderegul, and consent for appointment of colonel Ion Bogdan Ionescu as military, maritime and aviation attaché of Romania in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with his HQ in Sarajevo.
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