Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 84th Session

LAW ON MEASUREMENT UNITS OF BIH ALIGNED WITH EU ACQUIS 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Measurement Units in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of harmonisation thereof with the relevant EU acquis, with technical corrections by the Council of Ministers of BIH Legislation Office.

The Law provisions, proposed by the Institute for Measurement of BIH, regulate legal measurement units in Bosnia and Herzegovina, their titles and symbols, areas of application, and obligation of their use in BIH, in addition to harmonisation with the EU acquis, all for better consumer protection and free market.

The Proposal Law, marked by “EI” sign, defines legal measurement units obligatory applied in use measurement instruments in calculation of measurement results or as indices of measurement value in the aeras of legal measurement, economy, public health, public security and for administrative purposes.

The Law implementation supervision will be a task for the Institute or Measurement of Bosnia and Herzegovina and responsible inspection services.

The Proposal Law on Measurement Units will be provided to the BH Parliamentary Assembly for consideration under a shortened procedure. The current Law in force was taken in 2001 and was not harmonised with the EU legislation related to measurement units area.

EU PRIORITY: CoMBIH STRATEGY FOR CREATION OF FAVOIRABLE ENVIROEMNT FOR DEVELOPEMTN OF CIVIL SOCIETY ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers 2025-2029 Strategy for creation of stimulating environment for development of civil society, with a belonging 2025-2025 Action Plan, proposed by the Ministry of Justice, was adopted.

This is the first strategic document aimed to secure an effective stimulating environment, focused at stimulating partnership with state-level institutions, to the end of developing high quality public policies and improved citizen services.

The Strategy development was preceded by an analysis of the state of affairs, taking regard of  the Council of Ministers of BIH competences and available both financial and human resources, as well as the implementation  deadline. The Strategy includes aims, measures and activities referring to civil society organisations (OCD), associations and foundations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of their place of registration.

Four operative aims for 2025-2029 time-span are focused to strengthening of effectivity and transparency of OCDs by BIH Institutions, strengthening of normative framework and practice of inclusion of civil society into development and monitoring of regulations and policies from BIH Institutions competences, strengthening of institutional mechanisms for cooperation between the Council for Ministers of BIH and ODCs, and strengthening of resource infrastructure of civil society.

Activities planned under 2025-2026 Action Plan will cost KM 789.000,  to be covered by funds planned within BIH institutions Budget, in addition to assistance from various technical projects.

The Strategy development included representatives from civil sector by way of one-month public debate at e-Consultations portal, in addition to consultative live meetings with OCD representatives in Tuzla, Banja Luka, Bihać and Mostar.

The Strategy is an important step in cooperation between GO and NGO sectors, even more because there were 25,646 civil society organisations in BIH, according to October 2024 joint registry.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF BIH ACTION PLAN ADOPTED FOR IMPLEMETNATION OF PARTNERSHIP FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT

The session adopted an Action Plan of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for implementation of an initiative 2025-2027 “Partnership for Open Government”, proposed by the Ministry of Justic. Focusing to activities corresponding to citizens needs in view of transparency improvement and digital transformation.

The emphasis of the Action Plan is opening of data by communication of development of eco-system of open data (public sub-law) good, anticorruption, significant regulation of real ownership issue, as well as a risk assessment of NGOs of money laundry and financing terrorism, improvement of computer transparency, in addition to digital transparency and civil administration transformation by modernisation of its services.

The Action Pan presumes sustainability of measures implemented, which are more ambitiously set forth than those from the previous plan and better harmonised with other processes within the public administration reform.

The total planned 10 measures, and 30 activities will be implemented by August 31, 2007, except for those being implemented in continuity.

All the Action Plan—contained measures and activities are the result of a dialogue and cooperation with civil society representatives, for an aim of development of a more inclusive and accountable authority in our country.

The implementation of the Action Plan measures and activities will be monitored by a Consultative Council, with expert backing by both the Legal Assistance and Civil Society Development Section under the Ministry of Justice of BIH and Public Administration Reform Coordinqtor’s Office.

CoMBIH: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN FIRE EXTINGUISHING

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-tabled Decision on seeking international assistance for protection and rescue in fire extinguishing.

The Decision, supplemented at the session, emphasises that international assistance would be only sought in cases when all available capacities in BIH, including firefighting units, civil protection resources, the Armed Forces of BIH and other responsible all-level services are fully engaged and when assessments point at inability of Bosnia and Herzegovina to respond effectively to a threat by its own resources.

The Decision taking enables seeking international assistance for protection and rescue in form of firefighting forces, resources and aircraft for fire extinguishing, due to an increased risk from bursting and spreading big fire in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Responsible institutions and bodies of Bosnia and Herzegovina should take all needed procedures for acceptance of the assistance.

International assistance in fire extinguishing may be sought from all countries with which Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed agreements and memoranda on cooperation in protection and rescue, including through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Bodies responsible for civil protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina receive international assistance for fire extinguishing.

Finances required for acceptance of international assistance, referred to in the Decision, will be secured from Budget reserves, on which the Council of Ministers of BIH will take a separate decision.

SECURED CONTINUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PROJECT ON CORRIDOR V c

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Amendment No.1 to Dec. 28, 2020 Finance Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina (Borrower) and European Investment Bank (Bank), Corridor V c Medakovo - Poprikuše (“Finance Contract”) – Operation No. (Serapis No):2019-0751); 2019-0751; Contract No. (FI No;91.682), with Platform for its conclusion.  

The Amendment increases assessed costs and which currently amount to EUR 722 mil., while previously assessed costs were EUR 391 mil., and own financing share increased from EUR 51 mil to EUR 166 mil, and two WBIF grants were introduced of EUR 79 mil. and EUR 137 mil. The project term prolongs to Dec. 31, 2027, instead of original the end 2025 deadline.

This secured implementation of the strategic project of construction of Medakovo – Poprikuše highway section on the Corridor v c.

The Proposal Amendnet1 and Finance Contract with Platform for its conclusion will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further decision-taking procedure, and the Minister of Finance and Tresaury will be the BIH signatory thereof.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF “PROTECTIVE MEASURES FROM FLOODS IN RS” PROJECT

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a proposal Amendment 1 to Dec 20,2019 Finance Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina (Borrower), Republika Srpska (Promotor) and the European Investment Bank (Bank) (Finance Contract – Protective Measures from Floods in RS), Operation No. (SERAPIS No): 2017-0697; Contact No, (FI No)): 88.484, with Platform for its conclusion, and a proposal for the Minister of Finance and Treasury as the BIH signatory thereof.

Under the Amendment, the deadline for funds withdrawal was prolonged to Dec. 20, 2025, under an earlier concluded loan, which set the project implementation term from September 2019 to January 2023.

BIH AND EGYPT TO BOOST COOERPATION IN DEFENCE

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Platform for negotiations on an Agreement on Cooperation in Defence between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of the Arabic Republic of Egypt, which strengthens the bilateral cooperation.

The Agreement defines strengthening of cooperation to unfold by way of mutual visits by defence high officials, participation of members of the two respective armed forces in exercises and military training, as well as exchange of experience and opinion in the areas of shared interest, including defence and security policy, arms and disarmament control, peace keeping operations, together with military air force, topography and cartography.

The Proposal Platform will be sent to the BIH Presidency for further decision-making procedure, with a proposal for the Minister of Defence for the BIH signatory thereof.

NEGOTIATIONS ON INVESTMENTS PROTECTION AND PROMOTION AGREEMNT WITH SAUDI ARABIA

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a negotiations Report for conclusion of an Investments Protection and Promotion Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a proposed amendment of negotiation delegations mandate, drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

The conclusions were taken for the purpose on restoring negotiations with representatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for reaching a bilateral agreement on investment promotion and protection, where previous negotiations, although taken two decades ago, failed to arrive at mutually acceptable solution due to differing positions as to definition of a national treatment.

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina defined Principles and Standards of Investments Protection in negotiations on Investment Promotion and Protection in summer 2023, to be concluded by Bosnia and Herzegovina, and which are bounding for BIH negotiators in these processes.

BIH EXPORT INCREASE IN Q I THIS YEAR

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted an Analysis of Foreign Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Q I-III 2025, drafted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

The total goods exchange by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first quarter of 2025 was KM 11.30 billion, of which the value of exported goods was KM 4.12 bil. and of imported goods KM 7.18 bil, while the foreign trade deficit was KM 3.07 bil.

The total foreign exchange was increased by 5.96 % compared with the same time last year, with an increase of import for 5.48% and of export for 6.81%, and increased coverage of import by export for 0.71% and it was 57.29%.

The export to the EU countries was KM 3.04 bil., which is 5.18% more than in the first quarter of 2024, while export was KM 4.19 bil, which is 3.06% more than in the same quarter last year.

In the first quarter of 2025, a deficit in goods exchange with the U countries was KM 3.04 bil., which us 5.18 % more than in Q I 2024, which the import was KM 4.19 bil., or 3.06% more than in the same quarter 2024.

The first quarter 20205 marked a deficit in goods exchange with the EU countries of KM 1.15 bil., which is 2.15% less than in the same quarter 2024.

Bosnia and Herzegovina exported in the Q I 2025 goods mostly to Croatia (KM 717.76 mil.), Germany (KM 611.87 mil.), Serbia (KM 454.77 mil.), Austria (KM 397.11 mil.), Slovenia (KM 336.71 mil.), and Italy (KM 302.96 mil.)

Simultaneously, the most of goods were imported from Germany (KM 802.2 mil.), Italy (KM 778.45 mil.), Serbia (KM 746.93 mil.), China (KM 724.65 mil.), Croatia (KM 678.24 mil.), Turkey (KM 370.64 mil.), and Slovenia (KM 261.25 mil.). The major coverage of import by export Bosnia and Herzegovina had in the first quarter of 2025 with Austria, 153.50 %, Slovenia 128.88%, and Croatia 105.83%.

SUPPORT TO ECONOMY

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-tabled Report on application and effects of a decision on temporary suspension and temporary decrease of custom tariffs for import of certain goods to Dec. 31, 2014.

The Council of Ministers took 12 decisions, over the reported period, on temporary suspension and temporary decrease of custom tariffs for import of certain goods, from the Law on Custom Tariffs taking effect. The goods referred to in the Decision include materials and raw materials used by domestic producers for their own production which cannot be purchased domestically in sufficient quantities and quality required for production of final products.

Total 29 economic entities operating within metal processing industry benefited from the Decision, including 28 companies in textile and footwear industry and furniture producers, 18 from electro industry and 12 from chemical industry. In addition, five food processing companies benefited from the Decision on temporary suspension and decrease of custom tariffs, including one from each wood-processing and from graphic industries.

The Decision application resulted in significant increase of investments amounting to KM 165,801,325.82, with about KM 2 bil. profit of the companies, and an increased export value of KM 242,230.088.

The Report data suggest of the majority of economic entities marking an increase of production last year, together with an increase of labour, revenues and export, simultaneously, due to a crisis at the EU market, negative trends were marked, like closing facilities and decrease of labour in textile, footwear and furniture industries, while stabilisation compared to 2023 was registered in chemical industry.

BIH HOSTS EU – WESTERN BALKANS MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON JUDICIAL SECURITY

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Justice-tabled decision on setting-up an Organisation Committee for prearrangement of an EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Conference on Judicial Security, to be held in Sarajevo on Oct. 30-31, 2025, during the Kingdom of Denmark Chairmanship of the Council of European Union.

For the aim of timely, coordinated and effective operation of responsible institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of the Organisation Committee will be appointed from the sate-level Ministries of Justice, Security, Finance and Treasury and Foreign Affairs, in addition to the Directorate for European Integrations, Council of Ministers Secretariat-General, and Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies.

The session took a decision on approving KM 50,000 from the current Budget reserves for organising the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Conference on Judiciary Security.

This way, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as an EU candidate country, will host one among the most important conferences for the first time, relating to the EU- Western Balkan countries cooperation, bringing together high officials from European institutions and agencies and sector Ministers from counties of the region.  (end) 

Link for Photos:

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