Emergency session of the FBiH Government: Ušivak barracks made available to the Council of Ministers for the needs of the Ministry of Security

The Government of the Federation of BiH, at today's emergency session in Sarajevo, amended the Decision on the allocation of real estate over which the Federal Ministry of Defense holds the right of management and use, and the Ušivak barracks in the municipality of Hadžići, with the accompanying land totaling 95,129 square meters with 21 buildings, with a total usable area of 4,794 m2, was made available for use, free of charge, to the Council of Ministers of BiH for the needs of the Ministry of Security, for the accommodation of migrants located on the territory of BiH.

The Service for Joint Affairs of the Bodies and Institutions of the Federation of BiH is tasked with drafting a contract that will regulate the issue of compensation for utility services and infrastructure maintenance (consumption of electricity, heating, water, telephone, waste disposal, and other obligations arising from the use of these facilities) and carry out the handover to the user of these properties.

This barracks is not viable for the needs of the Armed Forces of BiH, and by an earlier decision of the FBiH Government from October 2005, it was made available to the Sarajevo Canton for the needs of the Red Cross of the Sarajevo Canton, which is in its possession. With today's decision, the FBiH Government positively responded to the request of the Ministry of Security of BiH, which addressed them on June 14 of this year.

The request stated that, due to the increased migration pressure in BiH, the competent bodies for migration and asylum issues faced the problem of a lack of accommodation capacities for foreigners who have expressed an intention to submit an asylum application or are asylum seekers, as well as other categories of migrants. The capacities of the Ministry of Security of BiH are full, so it is necessary to provide additional ones, in cooperation with international and non-governmental organizations or other bodies. Additional capacities are necessary to accommodate migrants who have not found any accommodation and are staying in parks or other open areas.

Securing additional capacities is urgent because among these categories of migrants, vulnerable groups are appearing, such as minor migrants, women with children, families with small children, who require care and assistance in accordance with the Law on Asylum, the Law on Foreigners, and other accompanying acts.

The Ministry of Security also stated that, after this request is granted, it will proceed with signing agreements and other binding acts that would regulate in more detail the relations, both regarding the material and technical resources currently located in the barracks (possible relocation to another location), regulate rights and obligations based on payment of utility services, electricity, water, telephone, waste disposal, infrastructure maintenance, and all other issues arising from the agreement. The competent authorities of BiH will bear all costs arising during the migrants' stay on the territory of BiH. The time period for the use of the barracks cannot be specified because it is currently impossible to predict how long the migrant crisis will last, stated in the request of the Ministry of Security of BiH.

The FBiH Government also adopted a Conclusion that the Federal Operational Staff for Migrant Issues should prepare for one of the upcoming sessions a report on what has been done so far in resolving the migrant issue and plans for further action.

Today's decision enters into force on the day of its adoption and will be published in the "Official Gazette" of the Federation of BiH.