Announcement
Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 79th Session
05/27/2025
The Council of Ministers of BIH define unanimously, with endorsed nomothenical corrections, a Proposal law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Administrative Procedure, proposed by the Ministry of Justice for the aim of securing preconditions for continuation of digital transformation of public administration in institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In line with the European Commission recommendations, the amendments and supplements to the Law will simplify and modernise relevant administrative procedure and will shorten time for service provision to citizens and business entities by introduction of an obligation to an administration body of data-finding on officially recorded facts, which is an important step forward in public administration reform process.
The Amendments and Supplements to the Law facilitate initiation of an administrative procedure, with application of an “only once” principle, as one of the most important changes brought by this Law.
The novelty in the Law is a single administration site enabling a stakeholder to fill several requests, as appropriate, to the administrative body, in addition to introduction of a platform for video communication by way of which the stakeholder my give its statement, and thus, as conditions allow, hold oral discussions.
The Proposal Law, with inserted nomotechnical corrections, will be provided to the BIH Parliamentary Assembly for consideration under regular legislative procedure.
SUPPORT TO REGIONAL SOLUTION-FINDING FOR PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS
The session adopted a piece of information on issues of transporters, tabled by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, as assigned by the Council of Ministers’ 77th session of April 22, 2025.
The Ministries of Security and Foreign Affairs should provide a apiece of information to the Ministry of Communications and Transport within 15 days deadline on activities taken pursuant to earlier taken conclusions of the Council of Ministers of BIH.
The Ministry of Communications and Transport should provide a compiled piece of information to the Council of Ministers of BIH on activities taken, accompanied by proposals concrete solutions to transporters’ issues and continue related activities.
Minister Forto briefed the Council of Ministers of BIH that his initiative of a regional approach to as fast as possible issue-solving of limitation to professional drivers was supported by the Western Balkans responsible Ministers at the EU Transport Community Ministerial Council meeting in Belgrade of mid-May. The meeting concluded that both regulations and approach to profession in transport should be harmonised with those of the Union and be recognised by the European Union without delay, so as to eliminate needless barriers between the WB6 and European Union.
The frequency of consideration of reports on transporters’ problems undoubtedly confirm the commitment of the Council of Ministers of BIH to solve the problem and enable an equal treatment of professional drivers from BIH, ahead of announced introduction of entry/exit system (EES) by the end of this year.
SUPPORT TO ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Loan Agreement (Sustainable, Integrated and Safe Road Infrastructure Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), worth EUR 81,700,000.
The aims of the Project are improvement of defence of priority network of highways in Republika Srpska, to enable better road connection and management of road network in terms of climate resilience and road safety. The Project includes improvement of transport conditions on road communication between Brod on Drina (Foča) and Hum (Šćepan Polje), in accordance with climate resilience standards.
The loan proceeds will be allocated to Republika Srpska – Public Company Roads of Republika Srpska, with 32 year repayment term and seven -year grace period.
The Proposal Agreement with Platform for its conclusion will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury will be the BIH signatory thereof.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN INTERREG EUROPE PROGRAME
The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Finance Agreement for 2021-2027 Interreg Europe Programme (Interreg VI-C) between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Directorate for European Integrations, and Republic of France, represented by the French Region Hauts-de-France.
The aim of the Agreement is consideration of shared values, such as respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, rule of law and horizontal principles for implementation of cohesion policy programme.
The Programme area covers 27 EU countries, and it includes certain regions in Norway, Switzerland, in addition to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
The total Programme budget is EUR 493,482,670.00, of which EUR 98,620,668.00 is co-funding by participating countries.
The Agreement defines conditions for the Interreg Europe Programme financing and implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a financial support by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRR), Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) and Instrument for Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation -Global Europe, in addition to the national Programme co-financing.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will send the Proposal Agreement with Platform for its conclusion to the BIH Presidency to further decision-making procedure, and the Director of the Directorate for European Integrations will be the BIH signatory thereof.
SUPPLEMENTS TO CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME FINANCIAL AGREEMMENT
Upon a proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, defined was a Proposal Agreement on Amendments and Supplements to 2021.-2027 Serbia-Bosnia and Herzegovina Cross Border Cooperation Programme Finance Agreement between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Council of Ministers Directorate for European Integrations, and Republic of Serbia, represented by the Ministry for European Integrations.
An initiative for amendment of the Agreement, concluded on Oct. 16, 2023, was sent by the European Commission for the aim for annulling an ad hoc measure imposed for check of budget implementation under direct management of IPA III beneficiary.
The Proposal Agreement, together with Platform for its conclusion will be provided by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to the BIH Presidency for further legal procedure, and the Director of the Directorate for European Integrations will be the BIH signatory thereof.
FOREIGNERS’ BIOMETRIC DATA IN CENTRAL DATA BASE
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed Decision on an obligation of provision of biometric data of foreigners.
Pursuant to the Law on Foreigners, the Decision introduces an obligation of provision of biometric data of foreigners and storing thereof in the Central Data Base, starting from Oct. 1, 2025.
The Decision was taken after certain technical conditions were met for entering biometric data to the Central Data Base.
The Law on Foreigners sets forth an obligation for foreigners to give biometric data on applying for visa and stay, identification, imposition of expulsion measure, putting under surveillance, or in process of issuing of a missing person certificate.
BIH FOREIGN DEPT SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted 2024-2027 Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Debt Sustainability Analysis, made by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury based on methodology developed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The analysis assesses the current state of public indebtedness of BIH, with a projection of tis mid-term trend, with defined basic risks to affect the public debt sustainability.
The analysis points at Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with mid-term sustainable public debt, for 2024-2027 time span, with the projected real growth of 2.4 % to 3.3% and 1.0% to 2.6% inflation rate. The debt burden indicators, according to basic scenario and stress tests, move within defined indicators and do not pose a risk to the debt sustainability.
ALLOWED ENTERING BIH UNDER SPECIAL CONDITIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision to allow
entrance to and stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina under special conditions.
Under the decision, an organised entrance to Bosnia and Herzegovina and stay under special conditions was approved for 630 elementary school children, citizens of the Republic of Serbia, from Kosovo and Metohija, without valid travel documents.
The children will, within their excursion travel, stay in local communities in Republika Srpska in June 14-22, 2025.
It is about a project implemented in cooperation with elementary schools in Kosovo and Metohija, elementary schools and local communities of Republika Srpska, with support by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Serbia.
OPERATIONOF COORIDNATION, EXPERT AND LEGAL TEAMS ON TRGOVSKA GORA ISSUE
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled Action Report of Coordination, Expert and Legal Teams on issue of storing radioactive and worn nuclear fuel at the Čerkezovac site, on Trgovska Gora, Dvor Municipality, Republic of Croatia.
The Report covers activities of the teams and their members implemented primarily in the course of 2024, independently and in cooperation with responsible authorities and local communities in BIH, and it includes conclusions from relevant meetings and session.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed a decision was taken on cessation of validity of a Decision on appointment of the legal team for development of a strategy of protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina legal interests in relation to the issue of storing radioactive waste and worn nuclear fuel at the Trgovska Gora site.
A need for the legal team ceased after hiring the international law firm Laborde Law from Paris, France, to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in further activities in the Trgovska Gora file.
The explanation of the Decision points that the Coordination team session of Jan. 23,2025 concluded that the Legal Team should be released from its duty and a part of its member should join the Experts Team, to provide legal assistance to the law office and domestic bodies, as appropriate.
INCERASED NUMBER OF INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS IN BIH INSITTUTIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Finance and Treasury-tabled 2024 Annual Consolidated Internal Audit Report, indicating an increase of number of audit reports in BIH Institutions relevant to the previous time.
The report, drafted by the Central Harmonisation Unit, suggests that 19 out of total 20 internal audit units drafted 142 audit reports, of which 72 regular audits, two ad hoc and 65 subsequent audits, and in 2023 there were 127, which is a 12% increase in number of audits.
The increased number of audits is confirmed by a five-year report, starting from 2020, when 100 audits only wee made, of which 50 regular, three ad hoc and 47 subsequent ones.
The increased number od audits conducted is followed by the number of recommendations, contributing to an improved planning and work organisation and better effectiveness in operations of BIH Institutions. Last year, total 455 recommendations were issued, slightly less than in 2023 with 481 recommendations. The most of them were in relation to public procurement process, improvement of financial management and control processes, official trips and areas specific to institutions’ operations.
AWARD ENFORCEMENT IN VIADUCT FILE
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of conclusions from the 27th session of the BIH Parliamentary Assembly House of Representatives, of April 15, 2025, regarding a discussion on an Initiative, filed by Deputy Ermina Salkičević-Dizdarević, for finding way to debt settlement in Viaduct, Ltd, Portorož file.
The Council of Ministers of BIH will make a report on all actions taken for protection of property interests of BIH and prevention of detriment to the state related to the file Viaduct, Ltd. , Portorož and send it to the Parliamentary Assembly House of Representatives.
The report will contain all activities implemented and solutions proposed for making.-up for damage, in accordance with the Law on Financing of BIH Institutions within amended 2025 Draft Law on Budget of Institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and International Obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will be sent to the BIH Presidency, authorised to proposing it to the Parliamentary Assembly of BIH, which adopts it finally.
Upon a request form the House of Representatives, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will draft a Proposal Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Borrowing, Debt and Guarantees of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to the Law on Conclusion and Execution of International Treaties.
ENABLED FUNCTIONING FO ISNTITUTE FOR MISSING PERSONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees-proposed Decision on appointment of a Supervisory Committee of the Institute for Missing Persons of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Supervisory Committee will include Goran Timotija, Igor Bevanda and Adbulah Đulović,, all appointed following a completed public job vacancy procedure, which would enable functioning of the Institute for Missing Persons.
Mandate of the previous members of the Supervisory Board expired in 2010, but they continued their work until 2021, when one of them deceased, and subsequently operation of the Committee was enabled since decisions are made by consensus of all three members.
ENABLED OPERATIONS OF COUNCIL FOR STANDARDISATION OF BIH
The session took a decision on appointment of members of the Council for Standardisation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an expert advisory body under the Institute for Standardisation of BIH, due to mandate expiry of the previous membership in 2021.
The Council for Standardisation has 25 members, prominent experts from both Entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina from various areas of operation, with assignments defined by the Law on Standardization of BIH.
ARCHIVE COUNCIL OF BIH
The session took a Decision on appointment of the Archive council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the composition of which includes five members from the Archives of BIH, while the Council of Ministers of BIH and Entity Governments, namely sector Ministries thereof, appoint one member each.
The Archive Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina is an advisory body for the field of archive service, which, among other things, discuss general issues from the domain of archive activities and provides recommendations and opinions on promotion of activities, and considers joint development programmes of archive operations.
The mandate of the Archive Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina members is four years, and the Manager of the Archive of Bosnia and Herzegovina is its president ex officio.
CHANGE OF MEMBERS BY FUNNCTION
The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-tabled Decision on Amendment of Decision on Appointment of Members and Secretary of the State Committee for Safety of Civil Aviation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus making a functional replacement of a member.
It is about appointment of incumbent Director General of the Directorate for Civil Aviation of BIH Zorislav Ivanović, instead of previous Director Čedomir Šurnjar.
Also, the State Committee includes Deputy Minister of Security, instead of previous Minister Nenad Nešić.
JOINT STEERING BOARD FOR INTERSECTION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on appointment of members of the Joint Steering Board for Legal Intersection of Telecommunications and Execution of Activities.
Under the Decision, appointed were for members of the Joint Board to four-year term, namely, Ivica Bošnjak, on behalf of the Ministry of Security of BIH; Srđan Pavlović, on behalf of the State Investigations and Protection Agency; and Emir Sadović, on behalf of he Intelligence-Security Agency f BIH.
Members of the Joint Steering Board make their decisions by consensus at sessions attended by all three members.
HARMONISATION OF RULEBOOK ON OFFICE OF CoMBIH AEGNT
The session took a Rulebook on amendment of the Rulebook on Internal Organisation of the Office of Council of Ministers of BIH Agent before the European Court for Human Rights, drafted by the Ministry for Huan Rights and Refugees, as assigned by the Council of Ministers of BIH.
It makes a harmonisation of the Rulebook with a Decision on Amendments and Supplements to Decision on Agent and Office of Agent of Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina before the European Court for Huaman Rights, adopted at the 37ht session of the Council of Ministers of BIH, of May 1, 2021, in connections with conditions to be met by the Council of Ministers Agent for its appointment, which removes all obstacles for initiating public competition procedure for selectin of the agent.
The conditions set forth include completed law school and passed legislative exam, at least five years of seniority in profession, of which three years on managerial posts, five years in representation before courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina or European Court for Human Rights, and active knowledge of English or French language.
TO PUBLISH JOB VACANCY AD
The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of a piece of information by the Ministry of Security concerning implementation of a job vacancy procedure for selection of a Manager of Agency for Forensic Research and Expertise, as the term of previous Manger Radiša Samardžić expired on January 29, 2025.
The Ministry of Security should take decision immediately on publishing job vacancy ad to follow adoption of a decision on defining standards and criteria for selection of the Agency Manager, in accordance with the Law on Ministerial Appointments, Appointments by Council of Ministers of BIH and Other Appointments of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
APPOINTEMTN OF TWO BOARD MEMBERS OF AGENCY FOR PRE-SCHOOL, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCUCATION
The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on implemented public job vacancy procedure for selection and appointment of two members of the Agency for Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education Board.
After completed job vacancy procedure, appointed to the Board were Sudo Marić from Bosniak People and Dejan Vanjek from Croat people as the best ranked successful candidates.
Earlier, Aida Salkić from Bosniak people and Franjo Ljubas from Crcoat people were released from duty, due to their mandate expiry.
APPOINTED MEMBERS OF STATE APPEALS COMMITTEE BOARD
The Council of Ministers of BIH considered a rank list of successful candidates for selection and appointment of the State Appeals Committee Board, proposed by the Independent Committee for Selection of State Appeals Committee Board, after completed public job vacancy procedure.
Appointed to the State Appeals Committee Board were Mladenko Čavara, Dario Krstić, and Enes Obralija, as the most successful candidates.
MAŠOVIĆ AS DEPUTY COORDINATOR FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM
The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Amira Mašović for Deputy Coordinator for Public Administration Reform. It is about the most successful candidate in relevant job vacancy procedure implemented by the Committee for Implementation of the job vacancy procedure for selection and appointment of Deputy Coordinator for Public Administration Reform.
CITIZENSHIP IN AREA OF SPORTS
The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision on granting citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the aera of sports for citizen of the Russian Federation Ana Alferova, under a proposal by the Biathlon Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded this year. (end)
Link for Photos:
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