BiH buys property in the center of Skopje for its diplomatic mission worth 760,000 euros

(Patria) - The 106th session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held today in Sarajevo.

Waste Management

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Draft Loan Agreement (Sustainable Waste Management Project) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, worth 46 million euros.

The goal is to improve solid waste management services by increasing recycling rates and bringing landfills into compliance with modern standards in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically in Goražde, Zenica, Canton Sarajevo, Mostar, Gradačac, Kalesija, Bosanska Krupa, and Bihać.

The Sustainable Solid Waste Management Project is aligned with BiH's priorities and the broader goals of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and follows the Federal Environmental Protection Strategy 2022-2032 in Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession process to the European Union.

The loan is allocated to the Federation of BiH, with a repayment period of 31 years, including an eight-year grace period.

The Draft Agreement, along with the Basis for its conclusion, will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH for further decision-making procedures, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury has been proposed as the BiH signatory.

IFAD Project

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Initiative of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and appointed a delegation to conduct negotiations for the conclusion of an amendment to the IFAD Financing Agreement - Agricultural and Rural Enterprise Development Project (READP) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

This involves an additional loan of 5,520,000 euros to finance the Rural Entrepreneurship and Agriculture Project, which continues the Agricultural and Rural Enterprise Development Project in Republika Srpska, initiated in 2021.

The loan repayment period is 20 years, with a five-year grace period and allocation to Republika Srpska - the Agricultural Project Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management.

Upon completion of negotiations, the Ministry of Finance and Treasury will submit the draft of this agreement, along with the Basis for its conclusion, to the Council of Ministers of BiH, in accordance with the Law on Borrowing, Debt, and Guarantees of BiH.

EU Standards

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Draft Decision on the Ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) on the Electronic Consignment Note, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The full implementation of the Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention addresses the demands of carriers in BiH, enables the digitalization of existing (paper) transport documents, and significantly simplifies procedures in this sector, thereby bringing Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to EU standards.

At the session, the Draft Decision on the Ratification of the Decision of the Joint Committee of the Central European Free Trade Agreement No. 2/2024 on Facilitating Electronic Commerce, adopted on October 9, 2024, was determined.

The decision establishes rules on electronic commerce between the CEFTA parties and sets out a set of rules aimed at facilitating the economy and the population.

Concurrently, the Draft Decision on the Ratification of Additional Protocol 7 on Dispute Settlement to the Agreement on Amendment and Accession to the Central European Free Trade Agreement was determined.

By ratifying the Additional Protocol, the CEFTA parties ensure a reliable dispute resolution mechanism, based on the World Trade Organization (WTO) system and the European Union model.

This strengthens cooperation and enables further trade growth between CEFTA countries in the processes leading to accession to the EU's single market.

List of Essential Medicines

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Decision on Establishing the List of Essential Medicines in Bosnia and Herzegovina with amendments made at the session, aiming to ensure their availability throughout BiH and provide basic health protection for the population in this area.

The decision was proposed by the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of BiH, specifically its Expert Council, with prior consent obtained from the entity ministries of health and the Department for Health and Other Services of the Government of Brčko District BiH.

Medicines on the list of essential medicines in Bosnia and Herzegovina represent the minimum number of medicines prescribed and dispensed at the expense of mandatory health insurance funds, as well as in hospital healthcare.

Manufacturers and legal entities engaged in wholesale drug distribution are obliged to have determined quantities of essential medicines available to ensure optimal accessibility.

Accommodation for Diplomatic-Consular Missions in Skopje

The Council of Ministers of BiH, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adopted the Decision on the Purchase of Property for the Accommodation of the Diplomatic-Consular Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of North Macedonia - Skopje.

The property has a total area of 540 square meters and a price of 760,000 euros (1,486,460.80 KM), located in the central part of Skopje, at 20 Oktomvri Street No. 15, where the BiH Embassy has been located previously under a lease agreement.

This property, as the most favorable offer, meets all the necessary criteria for the permanent accommodation of the Diplomatic-Consular Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Skopje, after negotiations resulted in a price consistent with the approved budget funds.

Previously, the Information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the conducted procedures and tasks completed by the Commission for the Purchase of Property for the Accommodation of the Diplomatic-Consular Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Skopje, with the proposal of the most favorable offer, was adopted.

By the Decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH from 2024, a multi-year capital project for the Purchase, Adaptation, and Equipping of Property for the Accommodation of the Diplomatic-Consular Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Republic of North Macedonia - Skopje, with a total value of up to 1,500,000 KM, was approved.

Road Transport of Goods

At today's session, the Council of Ministers of BiH expanded the composition of the Working Group tasked with urgently finding solutions for the problems of international road transport of goods, which coordinates activities at the multilateral and bilateral levels to achieve solutions in this area.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, the Directors of the Directorate for European Integration of the Council of Ministers of BiH, the Border Police of BiH, the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH, and the Chamber of Commerce of Brčko District BiH were appointed to the Working Group.

Earlier, the Ministers of Communications and Transport, Security, and Foreign Affairs were appointed to the Working Group, along with one additional member from each of the aforementioned ministries, while the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, the Logistics Consortium, and the entity chambers of commerce nominated their representatives.

The Working Group and the Council of Ministers of BiH are undertaking activities at the bilateral and multilateral levels to find solutions in this area.

"Expo 2027."

Upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, the Decision on the Establishment of the Organizing Committee for Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in the specialized exhibition "Expo 2027." in Belgrade was adopted in its new text and with amendments at the session.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Staša Košarac, will chair the Organizing Committee, while Deputy Minister Ljiljana Lovrić and Secretary of this Ministry, Hamdo Tinjak, will serve as deputy chairpersons.

In addition to the Minister of Finance and Treasury of BiH, Srđan Amidžić, the members of the Organizing Committee include representatives from the state ministries of Foreign Affairs and Civil Affairs, the BiH Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation, entity ministers, and a representative of the Government of Brčko District BiH, as well as the Director of the Agency for Investment Promotion of BiH, the President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, and representatives of the entity chambers of commerce.

The Organizing Committee, with defined responsibilities, has been established to ensure better preparation for Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in "EXPO 2027.", and representatives of other bodies/institutions and legal entities may be included in its work as needed.

USA Flag

The Council of Ministers of BiH granted consent to the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the projection of the American flag on the facade of the Friendship Building between Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina from July 1 to 4, 2026, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of independence.

This further strengthens bilateral relations and confirms the lasting friendship between the United States of America and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Wind Farm in HNK

The Council of Ministers of BiH, upon the proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, confirmed that the granting of a loan by the European Investment Bank to the Public Enterprise Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine d.d. Sarajevo falls within the scope of the Framework Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Investment Bank.

The European Investment Bank will grant a loan to the Public Enterprise Elektroprivreda Bosne i Hercegovine d.d. Sarajevo in the amount of up to 56,000,000 euros to finance the development of a wind farm at the Bitovnja location in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.

The Public Enterprise Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. Sarajevo, as the borrower, fully bears the risks of loan repayment and financing in the target sector and provides the creditor with all necessary coverage and guarantees for loan approval.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BiH will inform the European Investment Bank of this conclusion.

Amendment to One Article

Upon the proposal of the BiH Legal Counsel's Office, the Decision on Amending the Decision on Appointing ad hoc Members of the Negotiating Body of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Peaceful Settlement of International Investment Disputes was adopted in the procedure following a request for amicable settlement of an investment dispute, submitted on behalf of five investors: two citizens of the Republic of Slovenia, Lenart Skok from Ljubljana and Blaž Banjac from Ljutomer, and three citizens of the Republic of Serbia, Osman Ćelović from Prijepolje, Milutin Dobrilović from Belgrade, and Adis Ćelović from Prijepolje, by the law firm Goran Bubić from Banja Luka.

The amendment involves a functional replacement of one member from the Legal Counsel's Office of Republika Srpska, ensuring the continuation of the work of this BiH negotiating body, which was established to ensure timely, coordinated, and effective action by competent institutions in representing and protecting BiH's interests in the process of peaceful settlement of international investment disputes.

Liaison Officer

At the session, the Conclusion on the dismissal and assignment of the Liaison Officer of Bosnia and Herzegovina to EUROPOL in The Hague was adopted, dismissing the previously appointed police officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS, Aleksandar Stjepanović, from these duties and appointing police officer Igor Bogdanović from the same institution in his place.

The replacement of the BiH Liaison Officer to EUROPOL in The Hague followed the notification from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RS to the Ministry of Security of BiH that Stjepanović is no longer able to perform this duty, which he assumed on July 15, 2023, with a four-year mandate, and proposed that Bogdanović perform this duty for the remaining period of his mandate, until July 15, 2027.

The appointment of the liaison officer resulted from the concluded Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation between BiH and the European Police Office, which established a new type of cooperation on BiH's European path in the fight against organized crime, terrorism, and other forms of international crime.