Press Releases
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 72nd Session
09/09/2016
Vijeće ministara Bosne i Hercegovine
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of Information of the Directorate for Economic Planning on macroeconomic trends for January – June 2017, that confirm the continued trend of economic growth in BIH.
So, BIH economy in the first half of the year marks a real growth more than 2 per cnet, compared to the same period last year, in which the goods export nominal growth at annual level was made higher for 5.7 per cent in the Q2, and industrial production was higher for 4.6 per cent, accompanied by increased employment in the BIH industry sector. The number of employees in BIH in May 2016 was higher for 1.6 per cent, compared to the same month last year, and it is 724.8k the number of employees this June was reduced for 4 per cnet and it is 518k.
The collected VAT revenues during June 2016 were about 292 million , which is about KM 25 million 0r 9.2 per cent more than in June last year.
In the first half of 2016, Bosnia and Herzegovina made an increase of total foreign exchange of goods, import and export, and decrease of goods deficit, while the coverage of import by export was improved relative to the same period last year. The total BIH export of goods in the first six months of 2016 was KM 4.5 billion, which represents an increase of almost 3 per cent in nominal terms compared to the same period the year before. Viewed by trade partners and partner blocks, in the first half of 2016, the export to the EU market was KM 3.3 billion, which is an increase for 5.6 per cent. The total BIH import of goods in the first half of 2016 was about KM 7.8 billion, which is an increase of 0.8 per cent relative to the last year, in nominal terms. The total BIH foreign trade goods deficit in the first half of the year was almost KM 3.2 billion and it is reduced for 2.1 per cent, in comparison to the same period last year.
LAW ON SALARIES IN COURTS AND PRSECUTORIAL INSITUTIONS HARMONISED WITH CONSITUTIONAL COURT DECISIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Salaries and Emoluments in Courts and Prosecutorial Institutions and the BIH level, for compliance with decisions of the Constitutional Court, and will forward it to the parliamentarian procedure.
The Amendments and Supplements introduce emoluments for transport, meal in work-time, and for accommodation and separate life for judges and prosecutors and for some categories of exert staff in judicial institutions at the BIH level, defined by the Law on Salaries and Emoluments in Courts and Prosecutorial Institutions and relevant by-laws. Simultaneously, emoluments for holiday are being harmonised and are defined uniformly in all BIH Institutions.
BIH ACCEEDS TO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON PROTECTION OF NEW HERBAL SORTS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defied Proposal Basics for launching a procedure for accession of Bonsai and Herzegovina to the “International Convention for Protection of New Herbal Sorts, of December 12, 1961” (UPOV Convention), as amended in Geneva on November 10, 1972, October 23, 1978 and March 19, 1991, by which BIH assumes an obligation prescribed by CEFTA Agreement.
By ratification of the Convention, Bosnia nd Herzegovina will accelerate its accession to he World Trade Organisation, since membership in this organisation obliges its member-countries to secure an effective and appropriate protection of intellectual property, including the right to intellectual property concerning herbal sorts.
The initiator, 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 was proposed for the BIH signatory of the Instrument of Accession.
BIH INTENSIFIES COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO AND SERBIA IN EU ACCESSION PROCESS
The Council of Ministers of BIH defied, upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, three Proposal Basics for negotiations for conclusion of a Cooperation Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Macedonia, between Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Montenegro, and between Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia, in the process of accession to the European Union.
This way, BIH and the countries of the region intensify, at the bilateral level, their political dialogue and cooperation directed to integration to the European Union, in accordance with the stabilisation and accession Agreement with the EU, while the most important principles relate to the harmonisation of policies and standards of tje region, i.e. countries, SAA signatories, in the context of further approximation to the EU standards. The readiness of BIH to conclude these bilateral agreements will contribute to further development of relations between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide severally the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs was proposed for the BIH signatory.
TO REGULATE ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF COMMITTEE ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST ISSUES
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on regulation of administrative operations for the needs of the Committee for Conflict of Interest Issues, initiated by the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Anti-Corruption Action Coordination in BIH.
The administrative operations for the needs of the Agency should be executed by the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Anti-Corruption Action Coordination – Conflict of Intetest Department/Commission Office for Conflict Resolving.
INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGE OVER DRINA ADOPTED
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information of the Ministry of Communications and Transport on realisation of a project for construction of a bridge over the Drina River at Bratunac-Ljubovija site, and on a need for taking activities for construction of a joint border crossing between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Serbia in the Municipality of Bratunac, aiming coordination of activities by competent institutions in BIH and acceleration of the processes.
The project implementation is based on an Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Republic of Serbia on construction of an inter.-state bridge over the Drina River, with accompanying facilities at Bratunac-Ljubovija site.
The construction works in the territory of the Republic of Serbia started in October 2015, while in BIH they started in May 2016. The bridge construction, i.e. bridging of the Drina River, was planned to be completed by the end of this year, while all needed works should be finished by the end of 2017.
INCREASE OF FOREIGN TRADE AND SALES OF ARMS AND MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN 2015
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Annual Report on foreign trade of arms and military equipment, dual purpose and special purpose products, which includes a 2015 Report of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations on realisation of foreign trade of arms and military equipment, dual purpose and special purpose products and Report on issued certificates for foreign trade of arms and military equipment, dual purpose and special purpose products for year 2015.
The total value of the foreign trade, according to the issued documents for export and import and temporary export and import of arms, military equipment, dual and special purpose products, based on pro-forma invoices, accompanied by applications for certificates in 2014, was EUR 247,032,542. An insight into the realisation of issued certificates, the total value of the realised foreign trade in this area was EUR 105,209,141.
The total value of the foreign trade, according to the issued documents for export and import and temporary export and import of arms, military equipment, dual and special purpose products, based on pro-forma invoices, accompanied by applications for certificates, was EUR 426,927,569, which is for about 7.5 more than last year.
ACTION PLAN OF COMMITTEE FOR BIH INTEGRATIONS INTO NATO
The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent for a Rulebook of the Committee for NATO-Integrations Process of BIH, with adopted suggestions made at the session.
The session adopted also a Work Plan for June-December 2016, which includes a package of activities which the Committee for NATO Integrations Process of BIH is to carry out in the second half of the year.
An Activity Report of the Committee for NATO-Integrations Process of BIH for September 2015 – May 2016 was adopted earlier. (end)