Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina s Its 111th Session

Defined Reimbursements for Judges and Prosecutors 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Law on Supplements Law on Salaries and other Emoluments with judicial and prosecutorial institutions at Bosnia and Herzegovina level.

Under these changes, judges and prosecutor are entitled to accommodation and separation allowance, in line with the Council of Ministers-taken by-law, in accordance with the Law on Salaries and Emoluments in BIH Institutions.

So, presiding judge and chief prosecutor will be entitled to an accommodation allowance same as for the institution manager, under relevant by-law, while levels for judges and prosecutors will be corresponding those for other managing civil servants.

Judges and prosecutors will be entitled to separation allowance under conditions and t levels defined under relevant by-law for BIH Institutions employees.

Right to cash emolument for meal and transport costs will be provided also to expert staff, other for judges and prosecutors.

The Ministry of Justice of BIH will provide the Proposal Law to the Parliamentarian Assembly of BUIH for adoption under regular procedure.

 

KM 725,000 Savings at BIH Institutions Employees’ Transport Allowances

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a Decision, proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Treasury on level and procedure for realising the right to transport allowance with the BIH Institutions. The Decision was assessed to enable an annual savings as high as KM 750,000 in the Budget of BIH Institutions and International Obligations of BIH.

The Decision provides for a model of calculation of the relevant allowance, based on the level of daily, i.e. weekly allowance as per the length of transport. The amount of daily/weekly allowance is defined based on an employee’s permanent residence, taking regard of number of kilometres between the place of residence and work place along the shortest communication, provided that the monthly allowance must not exceed KM 300. The decision will be application as of October 1, 2017.

 

Preparation of Answers to EC Questionnaire

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took note of information by the Directorate for European Integrations on preparation of answers to the European Commission Questionnaire.

It was noted that 34 meetings of work groups took place in August, while technical finalisation of answers is in the process, scheduled to be completed by September 1, 2017.

Work groups activities and the process of answers’ finalisation encountered certain difficulties, especially in securing a quorum. Also among challenges was adhering to deadlines for certain activities, non-provision of requested pieces of information, data and regulations, i.e. consolidated regulations.

Upon the end of answers technical finalisation, work groups’ chairs, in agreement with their deputies, will provide the answers to the European Integrations Committee, which will pass them to the European integrations of BIH process coordinator for conformation, according to internal procedures.

Contentious issues surfacing in the course of technical finalisation will be provided to the European Integrations Committee and to other bodies within the coordination system, as appropriate, accompanied by a request for harmonisation.

After agreement is reached on outstanding issues and BIH answer confirmed, the EC Questionnaire will enter the process of translation, according to information.

 

Needed Improvement of Helicopter Capacities of BIH Armed Forces

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a report on necessity of urgent financial investments for improvement of helicopter capacities of the BIH Armed Forces, and will initiate an increase of total budget framework of the BIH Institutions for the needs of financing of high priority projects.

The Council of Minister s considers justifiable a demand by the BUIH Defence Ministry for an increase of year 2018 budget framework for about KM 65 million, for the purpose of purchasing  two new middle size transport helicopters and two fire extinguishing vessels for light multi-purpose helicopters.

 

EUR 13.5 Million for Wastewater Collecting in Zenica

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Financial Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and KfW, Frankfurt am Main, for the Wastewaters Collection and Treatment in Zenica Project in amount of EUR 13,516,696.80. The aim of the Agreement is improving of living conditions of Zenica citizens and environment protection. 

The funds will be used for development of a mechanical-biological wastewater treatment facility, extension of main collectors on both left and right banks of the River Bosna, joining Blantuša to the main collector at the left bank, construction of new collectors, rehabilitation of selected parts of collector and wastewater pipeline, and renovation of bicycling path along the River Bosna.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will provide the Proposal Agreement to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, with a proposal for Minister of Finance and Treasury Vjekoslav Bevanda as the BIH signatory.

 

Veterinary Cooperation with Iran

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a proposal for conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Islamic Republic of Iran on Cooperation in Veterinary Area. It would improve bilateral technical cooperation and facilitate trade in animals and products of animal origin, which would simultaneously prevent entering contagious diseases and unsafe products.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BIH will provide the proposal for conclusion of the Memorandum to the BIH Presidency for further procedure, and Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Mirko Šarović was proposed as the BIH signatory.

 

Public Administration Reform Fund to Become Operational by End 2020

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined a Proposal Annex VI to the Memorandum of Understanding for Establishment of  Public Administration Reform Fund between the donor – the UK Department for International Development (ODA), Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (SIIDA), Ministry for Development and Cooperation of Netherlands and EU Delegation in BIH – and the Council of Ministers of BIH, Government of the Federation of BIH, Government of Republika Srpska, Government of the Brčko District of BIH and Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BIH.

Also, the Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to set aside funds from the BIH Institution budget for 2018-2020 for co-financing of the Public Administration Reform Fund, in amount of KM 150,000 for each year, for the purpose of the Public Administration Reform Strategy implementation.

The Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office is in charge to prepare and provide to the Council of Ministers of BIH a report on the Fund resources expenditure, along with a plan for spending for the period to come.

 

Last Year Over KM 341 Million of State Aid Extended

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a Report on State Aid in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016.

According to the State Aid Council in BIH, the total state aid extended in BIH in 2016 was KM 341,233,224.0 or EUR 174,469,777.02, which represents an increase for KM 41,536,203.00 or 12.17 per cent in relation to year 2015.

The state aid was extended to, among others, the industry and services sectors for promotion of regional development, for general economic relevance service provision, as well as in the area of agriculture and fishery.

The 2016 Annual BIH State Aid Report was drafted based on annual reports on state aid provided at the level of the Council of Ministers of BIH, provided by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

 

To Improve Supplementary Education of BIH Child Emigrants Abroad

 

The Council of Ministers d BIH adopted Information on a need for supplemental education of children of BIH emigrants abroad.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is in charge to prepare a cost analysis of improvement of supplemental child education in those countries having the largest number of BIH emigrants.

The supplemental education, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, is organised differently by countries, and therefore needs for the education differ. BIH has done little thus far for organising the supplemental education, except for development of curricula of the supplemental education subjects in primary and secondary education for children abroad, in addition to I-IV primary school grades supplemental education text books issuing. However, the obligation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as to supplemental education national subjects, as established by 2003 Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in terms of signing bilateral agreement with host countries and provision of financial resources for supplemental education does not cease.

For the needs of betterment of supplemental education, a stronger cooperation was concluded to be needed among competent state-level ministries, namely, Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, Ministry for Civil Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with education ministries at both Entity and Cantonal levels, BIH associations abroad and individuals themselves.

 

CEEPUS III Agreement Extended for Additional Seven Years

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted information on validity extension of the Central European Exchange Programme for University Studies – CEEPUS III for the term of additional seven years, beginning in May 2018.

 

 

Minister of Security Dragan Mektić and Minister of Defence Marina Pendeš informed the Council of Ministers on activities undertaken in support to civil protection and fire fighters in extinguishing fire in BIH.

The Ministries of Defence and Security are tasked to prepare within 60 day time reports on their respective activities as an adequate response to natural disasters in general, which are in conformity with the Council of Ministers competences.

 

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision for the Ministry of Security to grant two all-terrain vehicles to the Municipalities of Stolac and East Mostar, for the needs of civil protection.

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