Bevanda: I respect the remarks on the budget, we have a crisis situation

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH and Minister of Finance and Treasury Vjekoslav Bevanda expressed satisfaction that at today's session of the Council of Ministers of BiH, the Draft Law on the Budget of BiH Institutions and International Obligations of BiH for 2020 was adopted, as well as the Decision on Temporary Financing for the second quarter of this year.

Minister Bevanda believes that the unanimous adoption of the Decision on Temporary Financing for the period April-June 2020 is an indicator of responsibility.

Minister Bevanda emphasized that he expects a high degree of awareness of the moment in which this year's budget is being adopted and respect for all remarks that have been made.

“We have a crisis situation in the country due to the coronavirus, which the whole world is facing, and all countries have or will have problems with the economy. BiH is still fiscally stable, but we must work to keep it that way,” emphasized Minister Bevanda.

Minister Bevanda reminded that this year's budget, by the decision of the BiH Fiscal Council, was increased by 30 million KM and amounts to 996 million KM for the financing of BiH institutions, of which 780 million KM are withdrawals from the single account.

“The requests of BiH institutions were much larger than the budget framework within which we operate, but the most important thing is that we have planned funds for the smooth functioning of institutions. I believe that we will be able to finance new situations as well, because at the BiH level we have a coordinating role, while the entities and cantons are the operators on the ground when it comes to healthcare,” pointed out Minister Bevanda.

He reminded that the external debt, for which a repayment of 807 million KM is planned this year, is being serviced regularly.

Minister Bevanda reminded that after the Council of Ministers, the draft budget will be sent to the constitutional proposer – the Presidency of BiH, and then the budget proposal will go for adoption to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.