Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 74th Session

BIH COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPTS ITS MID-TERM WORK PROGRAMME BY 2019 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Mid-Term Work Programme of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2017-2019, initiated by the Directorate for Economic Planning, and renewed by the suggestions made at the session.

The Programme reflects strategic general mid-term aims and their implementation programmes for 56 institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina reporting to the Council of Ministers of BIH.

This way, the Council of Ministers follows a practice of the European Union countries, sand links the BIH development with the principle of development enshrines in the “Europe 2020” and “South-East Europe” Development Strategies. The aim is, among other things, to secure the macroeconomic stability, improve competitive economic surrounding and increase industrial competitiveness, in addition to securing a faster and more effective development of agriculture, insuring even regional development with increased employment opportunities, poverty reduction and social inclusion, and inclusiveness in education.  It also includes the promotion of culture and creativity, health improvement, development of environmental infrastructure and energy potentials, and acceleration of the transition process and capacities building.

This is the second mid-term work programme, adopted by the Council of Ministers of BIH, and it represents a foundation for implementation of the BIH Reform Agenda measures.

 

TRILATERAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME CROATIA – BIH – MONTENEGRO

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Agreement for Financing of Interreg – IPA Trilateral Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 between the European Commission and Bosnia and Herzegovina, worth EUR 67,241,552, to be funded by the EU in amount of EUR 57,155,216 and the remaining part of EUR 10,086,236 by the three countries beneficiaries.

The aim of the Programme is to increase the socio-economic growth through interventions in different sectors, such as health, and social welfare, environment and nature protection, disaster risk prevention, and improved development of touristic and business environment. The Programme includes 12 districts in Croatia, 109 municipalities and the Brčko District of BIH in BIH, and 10 municipalities in Montenegro.

The Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2014-2020 is considered to be an instrument for implementation of a cohesion policy of the EU, as het main investment tool for meeting the “Europe 2020” and “South-East Europe” Strategies aims.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement with Basics for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency, and Director of the Directorate for European Integration Edin Deliberović was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

BIH FULFILS ITS INTERNATIONAL COMITTMENTS FORM BASEL AGREEMENT

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision; upon a proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, on conditions for cross-border transport of hazardous waste, in compliance with a Convention on Control of Cross-Border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Its Storing, by which BIH fulfils its international obligations, taken-up by the ratification of the Basel Convention.

The Decision prescribes conditions for transport of hazardous waste, which will have its effect to a decrease of cross-border transport and will insure more effective management of hazardous waste in an environment-friendly way.

The Decision also protects domestic capacities and helps strengthen domestic economy, since the waste owner is obliged to offer it to authorised BIH entity, disposing of needed capacities for treatment or disposal of hazardous waste in an ecologically suitable manner, including lead alloys and lead-acid batteries.

 

BIH AND EGYPT INTENSIFY YOUTH COOPERATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined Proposal Basics for Negotiations on a Memorandum on Youth Cooperation between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The conclusion of the Memorandum will contribute to the improvement of bilateral links and further development of relations between the two countries’ institutions responsible for youth.

The Memorandum, among other things, defines exchange of information, knowledge and research works, as well as visits by youth delegations.  It plans forming of a joint committee in charge for the Memorandum implementation monitoring and for developing joint projects.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will provide the Proposal Basics to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, with a proposal for the Minister of Civil Affairs to be the BIH signatory of the Memorandum.

 

BIH APPLIES FOR FIRST TIME FOR RESEARCH ON NUTRITION HABITS OF RESIDENTS IN BIH

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information of the Food Safety Agency of BIH on conducting a research on nutrition habits of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the time period from 2017 to 2022.

An authorisation was granted to the Food Safety Agency of BIH to organise and conduct, following the methodology of the European Food Safety Authority a research on nutrition habits of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the time period from 2017 to 2022.

The Food Safety Agency of BIH is tasked to prepare all needed documentation and make an on-line application to a tender issued by the EFSA until September 30, 2016.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has not conducted such research to date, and the relevant data are missing in the data base for risk assessment, which the Agency formed and up-dates regularly. It is for the first time that a possibility for application was given to some pretention EU candidate countries, among which there is Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research would cover three basic age groups of citizens, from 10 to 73 years of age, and it would be conducted in accordance with the defined EFSA methodology. Such research is of a great importance for each country, and for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well.

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