2022 BUDGET ON HOLD SDA and HDZ BiH demand adoption of Global Fiscal Framework

(Patria) - The SDA Presidency adopted a conclusion on Friday demanding that RS representatives in the Fiscal Council cease obstructing the adoption of the Fiscal Framework and enable the adoption of the budget for BiH institutions.

In a letter sent by the BiH Minister of Finance and Treasury Vjekoslav Bevanda (HDZ BiH) to the European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, he also pointed out that the obstacle to any further action on the adoption of the budget for BiH institutions for 2022 is the non-adoption of the Global Financial Framework 2022-2024.

The International Monetary Fund in BiH told Patria that they will discuss this issue during the upcoming mission for consultations under Article IV.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina currently does not have a program with the International Monetary Fund. The IMF always encourages and urges authorities to adopt budgets in a timely manner at all levels, including at the state level. We will discuss these issues during the upcoming mission for consultations under Article IV,” said Andrew Jewell, IMF Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in response to Patria.

In a statement to the media, the President of HDZ BiH, Dragan Čović, presented the position from the joint collegium of both houses of the BiH Parliament.

“The Council of Ministers of BiH was asked to initiate accelerated procedures for the Global Fiscal Framework and the state budget for this year to be adopted as soon as possible, as well as the budget execution law. In this way, we express our strong commitment to respond to the economic and social challenges facing us, which will certainly be transferred from the global level to BiH. We are particularly exposed because many institutions do not function in our country,” Čović said.

The international community has also called on the authorities to adopt the state budget as soon as possible, especially due to the financing of the October 2022 elections. 

Both SDA and HDZ BiH have also called for the unblocking of the work of state institutions.  

“The solution is to return to the institutions, to make decisions on behalf of all our citizens. By acting together, we can dispel the fears of all those who are anxiously following what is happening in Ukraine today in BiH,” Čović stated.

Otherwise, on March 15, a session of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs will be held in Brussels, where BiH will be discussed, and members of the BiH Presidency and Čović will participate.