Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 84 Session

TRADE DEFICIT DECREASES FOR 3.23% 

The Council of Ministers of BIHJ adopted an Analysis of foreign trade exchange of Bosni and Herzegovina for January-September 2016, which indicates that the total goods exchange amounted to KM 18.67 billion, which is for KM 176.96 million more that in the same time period 2015.

Over the reported period of time, the deficit was decreased for 3.23 per cent in comparison to 2015 and was KM 4.96 billion. The export was increased for 2.54 per cent and was KM 6.86 billion, while the import remained at the same level as in 2015, and was KM 11.81 billion. The coverage of import by export in January-September 2016 was 58.09 per cent.

The European Union is still our major foreign trade partner, so that in total value of goods exchange, the EU participates with 67 per cent, followed by CEFTA 2006 countries-signatories, which participate with 13.36 per cent, goods exchange with all other countries was at 20.89 percent.

The export to the EU accounts for 72.82 per cent in total BIH export, while import form the EU countries accounts for 61.65 per cent. In total BIH import.

Among major trade partners, the biggest coverage of import by export we recorded with Austria - 135.8 per cent, with Slovenia – 97.47 per cent, Germany - 75.85 per cent, Croatia – 61.73 per cent, Italy – 60.5 per cent, Turkey – 51.24 per cent, and Serbia – 42.87 per cent.

BIH made is major export to Germany (16.29 per cent), Italy (12.12 per cent), Croatia (10.53 per cent), Slovenia (8.56 per cent), Serbia (8.36 per cent), Austria (8.02 per cent), Turkey (3.74 per cent), Montenegro (2.56 per cent), Hungary (2.17 per cent), and Netherlands (2.14 per cent).

At hte same time, the most of our import was from Germany (12.48 per cent), Italy (11.63 per cent), Serbia (11.32 per cent), Croatia (9.91 per cent), China (6.86 per cent), Slovenia (5.1 per cent), Russia (4.35 per cent), Turkey (4, 24 per cent), Austria (3.43 per cent), and Poland (2.93 per cent). The import from these countries ain the first three quarters this year account for 72.26 per cent in total BIH import.

 

ACTION PLAN FOR EU REPORT PRIORITIES IMPLEMENTATION

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted Information on “2016 Enlargement Package”, and tasked the Directorate for European Integrations under the Council of Ministers of BIH to elaborate measures for implementation of priorities, specified in the 2016 Progress Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and develop an action Plan for the implementation thereof, in cooperation with competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Directorate for European Integrations will prepare a template Action Plan for the implementation of priorities set in the 2016 Progress Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Action Plan will contain measures for the realisation of 76 priorities from multiple areas, with a view of continuation of reforms and further progressing of BIH, after hte Euroepan Commission assessed in its 2016 Report that BIH fulfils priorities concerning reforms, especially those defined in the Reform Agenda.

 

ON ENTRY TO BIH FOREIGN MUST POSSESS KM 150 PER DAY

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Ministry of Security, on minimum resources required for support of a foreigner during his intended stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the Law on Foreigners.

The Decision provides for a foreigner, on his entry to BIH in 2017, must have available KM 150.00 or equivalent in foreign currency for each day of his intended stay in BIH.

 

SIMPLIFICATION OF CUSTOMS REGULATIONS FOR CEFTA SIGNATORIES

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH  defined a Proposal Additional Protocol 5 to an Agreement on Amendments and Accession to Central European Free Trade Agreement, and will forward it to the BIH Presidency, with a proposal for the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations to accept it at the CEFTA Joint Board session.

The Protocol will additionally promote the trade by the simplification of inspections concerning all customs procedures and streamlining of formalities and data exchange among customs authorities to the extent allowed under national laws, as well as by mutual recognition of state programmes of authorised economic entities in each CETFA country-signatory, if harmonised with the European Union acquis.

The conclusion of the Protocol, prepared by the Ministry of foreign Trade and Economic Relations, is in line with the BIH Reform Agenda, it is a part of the commitments taken within the Berlin process, as well as conclusions of the Western Balkans Prime Ministers’ summits held in Vienna and Paris.

 

APPROVAL OF KM 189,000.00

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to approve KM 190,000.00 from current reserves of the Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH for 2016 to the Prosecutor’s Office of BIH for making-up for expenditures made in the exhumation processes taking place throughout Bosnia nad Herzegovina.

 

SAVINGS SECURED FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL WORKS AT IVANJICA BORDER-CROSSING

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH, upon an initiative of the Indirect Taxation Administration, took a Decision on Amendments of Decision on approval of Procurement and Construction Project for Regional Centres and Central Office of the Indirect Taxation Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina and for border-crossings construction and rehabilitation.

Under the decision, unspent funds for construction of Tuzla and Sarajevo regional centres will be reallocated for the construction of Ivanjica border-crossing, so that no new budget expenditures will be needed.

 Ivanjica border-crossing was intended for traffic of goods subject to phytosanitary inspection, so there will be additional four control cabins with the accompanying installations. Also, upon a request of inspection services, the inspection services facility will be expanded, which caused an increase of expenditures for the border-crossing construction.

(end)