Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Holds Its 114th Session

EI DECISION ON RULES FOR ALLOCATION OF SMALL VALUE ASSITANCE ADOPTED

The Council of Ministers took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed Decision on Rules of Allocation of Small-Value Assistance (de minimis assistance), with an “EI” mark, as a proof of relevant harmonisation with the EU acquis, with some corrections made at the session.

The Decision is in function of securing legal security, transparency and equal treatment of all economic entities, beneficiaries of the assistance, including as alignment with the relevant EU regulations.

The Decision enables faster and simpler financial support to economic entities subject to registration and approval by the Council for State Assistance of BIH.

The total amount of de minimis assistance to be approved to a single economic entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina must not exceed EUR 300,000 in Km countervalue, during any three-year time span.

De minimus assistance is allocated by state assistance providers defined under the Law on State Assistance System in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Decision is applicable to small value assistance to economic entities in all sectors, with certain exceptions in fishery, aquaculture, primary agricultural production, processing and marketing of agricultural products and activities connected to export.

The Decision takes force as at adoption thereof and will be published in the “Official Gazette of BIH”.

SIX MILLION KM TO BIH PUBLIC BRIOADCASTING SERVICE

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Communications and Transport-proposed decision on use of accumulated surplus revenues from the Communications Regulatory Agency of BIH in total amount of KM 11,794,543.16, conclusive with Dec. 31, 2025.

Out of the amount, KM 10,000,000 was intended for support to development and improvement of the BIH communications sector, in line with a special decision by the Council of Ministers of BIH, upon a proposal by the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

The remaining KM 1,794,543.16 will be used by the CRA BIH for advancement and further development of its technical and informatic capacities. The Communications Regulatory Agency of BIH will use the resources for implementation of certain system up-grading and sensor network for implementation of overall monitoring system of radiofrequency spectrum in BIH, improvement of users’ protection and capacity building for fulfilment of national and international obligations.

Under the Decision on use of KM 10,000,000 accumulated surplus revenues of the Communications Regulatory Agency of BIH , the Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) gets KM 6,000,000, and Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Government of Republika Srpska get KM 2,000,000 each.

The Council of Ministers of BIH thus supports advancement of operations of electronic media in BIH, for high quality broadcasting production and reaching contemporary technological standards.

The Public Broadcasting System of BIH will use the allocated funds for implementation of is development and modernisation project and digitalisation of production-technical capacities.

The remaining amount will be used, pursuant to Entity Government decisions, as support to electronic media sector development and creation of preconditions for boosting media pluralism.

AMENDED DECISIONS

Several Decisions proposed by the Ministry of Communications and Transport were taken on amendments of two decision, namely, on the use of a part of resources from the accumulated revenue surplus of the Communications Regulatory Agency of BIH, earned by Dec. 31, 2021, as well as on defining intended use of a part of funds paid for use of radiofrequency spectrum for service provision through mobile access system.

A Decision was also taken on amendment of Decision on use of transferred special purpose funds paid for licences for universal mobile telecommunications system.

Under amendments of the decisions, users of the resources should report within two years from the funds transfer, on the use thereof to the Council of Ministers of BIH, via the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

Under earlier decisions, a reporting obligation deadline was defined to Dec. 31, 2025, but due to delay in the decisions taking, the deadline needed to be shifted.

CONSENT TO PROPOSAL RULEBOOK ON UNIFORM, MARKS AND BADGES OF COURT POLICE

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent, in the second round of vote, to a Proposal Rulebook on Court Police Uniform, Marks and Badges and Marks on Its Vehicles, in a new text, to be taken by the Minister of Justice of BIH.

The Rulebook defines the image of uniform, marks and badges and marks on belonging vehicles, relevant to integral parts, colour, kind of fabric and quantities, including a procedure as to hiring police unform, conditions for its replacement and the expiry of service life limit.

The total required funds for purchase of official unforms and equipment would be KM 264,594 no VAT.

The purchase of official uniforms and equipment for Court of Police of BIH officers will be made in pursuant to expiry of service of life limit of certain parts of uniform and equipment, defined under the Proposal Rulebook, and KM 173,884 no VAT will be needed to secure 2028.

EU SOLIDARITY FUND EUR 45.7 MIL. GRANT TO BIH

The Session adopted a piece of information from the Office of Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BIH on resources from the European Union Solidarity Fond (EUSF) and possible relevant implementation models.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will get resources from the EU Solidarity Fund based on a successful and timely prepared application by the Council of Ministers Team for Application Preparation, submitted by Chairwoman Borjana Krišto, after catastrophic floods in BIH in early 2024.

The grant is worth EUR 45.7 million, and it covers about 6 per cent of total damage, as much as the maximum level of approved funds from the EU Solidarity Fund, managed by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

According to its foundation document, the Solidary Fund may use funds for rehabilitation od public infrastructure (energy, water, health, education, road), temporary accommodation, preventive measures, cultural heritage protection and cleaning operations (urgent intervention measures), and they cover private losses of natural persons and economic entities.

The team has prepared a Plan for implementation of the EU Solidarity Fund resources, in line with earlier conclusion of the Council of Ministers of BIH.

Since the approved grant is to be implemented within 18 months from its approval, without possibility to prolong the deadline, the plan gives a review of possible financial models for urgent provision of additional funds, to facilitate and disburden the implementation deadline.

DG REGION chose UNDP and IOM for implementation partners for EUSF funds.

RATIFICATION OF BIH – CROATIA CONTRACT ON BORDER CROSSINGS

The Council of Ministers of BIH defined unanimously a Proposal Decision on Ratification of Contract between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia on Broder Crossings, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to be sent to BH Presidency for further procedure.

Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers od BIH Borjana Krišto and President of Government of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković signed the Contract in Sarajevo on June 7, 2026, for the purpose of further strengthening of bilateral relations in borders.

PERVENTIVE EMASURE: CoMBIH TOOK DECISION ON SEEKING INTERNATIAONAL ASSISTANCE IN LARGE FIRES

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Security-proposed decision on seeking international assistance for protection and rescue in fire extinguishing, due to an increased risk from outbreak and spread of large fire in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

By the timely decision-making the Council of Ministers of BIH secures in advance defined institutional and procedural framework for activation of international assistance in case of large-scale fires.

The Council of Ministers will seek international assistance after it engages its all-level forces and resources in full (firefighting units, civil protection resources, Armed Forces of BIH, and other competent BIH services) and the Ministry of Security estimates indicates that BIH is not capable to respond effectively to a threat by its own resources and that international assistance is badly needed.

The Decision enables seeking international assistance for protection and rescue in terms of firefighting forces, means and manned aircrafts for fire distinguishing from all countries with which BIH has signed cooperation agreements and memoranda for protection and  rescue, including through the EU Protection Mechanism.

The civil protection responsible bodies in BIH receive international assistance in fire distinguishing. Finances needed for acceptance of international assistance will be secured form budget current reserves, on which the Council of Ministers of BIH takes a special decision.

RECONCILIATION CONTRACT: SUISPENSION OF ISCD ARBITRAGE EGSVS BIH IN WASHINGTON

The Council of Ministers of BIH granted its consent to a Reconciliation Contract for remaining unsettled claims by “Elektrogospodarstvo of Slovenia – Development Engineering”. Ltd (EGS) and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the ISCID arbitrage procedure before the Washington-based International Centre for Solving Investment Dispute and authorised the Chief Attorney’s Office of BIH for the signatory thereof.

The Chief Attorney’s Office of Bih is authorised to confirm, following signing fo the Contract on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a joint position on suspension of ISCID arbitrage, initalled by EGS against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Washington, based on self-governance agreement on development of coal power plant Ugljevik, where an indemnification claim amounted to EUR 695,175,000.

The Reconciliation Contract is concluded after signing a Debt Settlement Agreement between EGS, Ugljevik Coal Power Plant and Power Utility of Republika Srpska, under which an agreement was made on settlement of the remaining due claims. The Government of Republika Srpska granted an additional guarantee for settlement of remaining liabilities, in case the Ugljevik Power Plant and EGS fail to do so.

This is the end of decades long dispute concerning development of Ugljevik coal mine and power plant, with the EGS and Republic of Slovenia, on one side, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e. Republika Srpska and Ugljevik Power Plant, on the other side.

ARMED FORCES OF BIH STOAFF PARTICIPATE IN MISSION IN GAZA

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry of Defence-tabled Conclusion on justifiability of participation of the Armed Forces of BIH staff-members in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza.

A piece of information on aspects of justifiability of participation of Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the International Stabilisation Forces in Gaza were considered, and the Council of Ministers of BIH assessed as necessary, before the arrangement, to supplement the assessment of justifiability after defining the role and place of contribution of the Armed Force o BIH within the overall structure of the ISF Mission in Gaza.

The Ministry of Defence should, following a Conference on Arrangement of the International Stabilisation Force in Gaza, draft an amended Decision on Justifiability of Participation of 64 staff-members of the Armed Forces of BIH in ISF Mission in Gaza.

REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MANDATORY OR STANDBY DUTY OF JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Justice-tabled Decision on level, conditions and implementation of reimbursement for mandatory duty or standby of judges and prosecutors.

The decision is in line with the 2024 Law on Salaries and Other Reimbursements in Courts and Prosecutorial Institutions at Bosnia and Herzegovina level, thus implementing relevant decision of the Constitutional Court.

According to the Decision, reimbursement for mandatory duty or standby for judges and prosecutors in judicial institutions at Bosnia and Herzegovina level is set relevant to their basic monthly salary and it is five per cent on a workday, while on weekend and holiday it is seven per cent of basic monthly salary.

Funds for payment for imbursement are secured from the Court of BIH Budget for judges and from the BIH Prosecutorial Office for prosecutors.

INCERASED NUMBER OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN BIH

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted a piece of information from the Ministry of Civil Affairs on implementation of the Framework Law on Secondary Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025.

According to the piece of information, 314 secondary schools in Bosnia and Hercegovina enrolled 108,057 pupils, more for 314 pupils relevant to the year before. Total 61,816 pupils enrolled to technical schools, among which 32,219 girls, while 21,155 pupils, 6,226 girls among them, enrolled in vocational schools. It is evident that the most of pupils attend technical schools, 57.2 per cent, while vocational schools enrol 19.6 per cent pupils, while the remaining 32.2 per cent attend gymnasium, art or religious secondary schools.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will pass the piece of information to competent Entity and Cantonal Ministries of Education and Assemblies, Education Division of the Brčko District of BIH, and the Agency for Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Education of BIH.

ANNUAL REPORT ON ACCOMODATION OF FOREIGNERS AND INDIVIDUALS UNDER SUBSIDIARY PROTECTION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees-tabled report on accommodation of refugees and foreigners under subsidiary protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025.

According to data for December 2025, 288 refugees and foreigners under subsidiary protection wee evidenced in BIH, out of which 44 with a refugee status, 244 under subsidiary protection, precisely, 164 men and 124 women.

The “Salakovac” refugee accommodation centre in Mostar accommodated 39 individuals last year, mong which 24 were with a subsidiary protection status. 11 citizens of Bosnia Herzegovina (family reunion right) and four individuals in asylum seeker status.

Out of individuals having international protection status, 37 individuals were in labour-legal relation (14 women and 23 men), while six individuals in self-employment procedure had registered their own businesses (five woman and one man.)

In the course of 2025, total KM 418,227.08 was spent for needs for health insurance and social protection of refugees and individuals with recognised status of subsidiary protection in BIH, for which KM 401,738,38 was paid from the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees budget, and KM 16,488.70 from UNNHCR projects.

The Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees should report improvement in the aera to the Council of Minister s and Parliamentary Assembly of BIH at least annually or more often, as appropriate.

STRENGTHENING OF INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AIMS IMPLEMENTATION

The Council of Ministers of BIH adopted the Directorate for Economic Planning-tabled Annual on Implementation Report of Sustainable Development Aims Implementation Framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The report suggests a continued strengthening of the institutional and strategic framework of the sustainable development aims implementation. All key documents relating to the sustainable development aims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the framework for implementation of SDG and financial framework, were adopted by all-level authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This conforms a wide institutional and political consensus on relevance of sustainable development, as well as dedication of different authority levels for joint action towards realisation of development priorities defined under Agenda 2030.

In future, it will be necessary to strengthen additionally coordination system, improve statistics and monitoring, mobilise additional financial sources, and secure stronger inclusion of all level authorities and social actors in implementation of development priorities. A need for a stronger linking of Agenda 2030 and the European integrations process, public investments and reform priorities remains a special challenge.

AFTERCARE PROGRAMME FOR INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND ATTRACTION

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina took note of both a “Post-Investment Support Programme Analysis” (aftercare programme) for 2025 and piece of information from the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency on activities implemented for improvement of business environment.

The Analysis, covering 30 companies visited in 2025, indicates that they invested KM 2.5 billion and employed more than four thousand workers, and that 83.3 % of them plan new investments, while 70% plan new employments in the next three years.

FIPA representatives within 2007-2025 Post-Investment Support programme made 835 visits to companies investing more than KM 15 billion and employing more than 86 thousand workers. In average, 80 per cent of visited companies announced new investments. Within an advanced after care programme, with cooperative network, 255 visits have been made since 2013.

BIH CITIZWENSHIP FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SPORTS

The Council of Ministers of BIH took a decision to admit to BIH citizenship a German citizen Amil Šiljević, football goalkeeper and eventual member of BIH national A team , a person of special use for BIH sports., as recommended by the Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Šiljević was born in 2007 and serves as a goalkeeper with Frankfurt-based Eitracht.

“BROD” FEE ZONE

The Council of Ministers of BIH took the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations-proposed decision on defining a customs area of BIH as a free zone “Brod”, in line with the Law on Free Zones in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Municipality of Brod is founder of the “Brod” free zone of 84.04ha surface.

The Ministry of foreign Trade and Economic Relations will take relevant decision, upon a proposal by a Committee for Defining Conditions for Operations, which is to prove fulfilment of conditions for start of operation of the free zone.

APPOINTMENTS

The Council of Ministers of BIH appointed Džemil Hajrić for Secertary with the Veterinary Office of BIH for a four-year term, as the most successful candidate in a finalised job vacancy procedure for appointment of a managing civil servant.

The session considered the Ministry of Civil Affairs Report on implemented a public job vacancy ad procedure for selection and appointment of Manager and two Deputy Managers with the Agency for Development of High Education and Quality Insurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs should open a new job vacancy ad for position of Manager of the Agency for Development of High Education and Quality Insurance of BIH, cause all three candidates failed to get maximum points in the procedure.

Dr. Mahir Zajmović was appointed Acting Manger until the end of relevant job vacancy procedure, for three months at longest.

Deputy Managers are Stevo Škrbić and Irena Šišiko for a four-year term, as the best ranked candidates at the relevant job vacancy procedure. (end)

Link for Photos:

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