End of the year approaching: BiH Presidency to discuss new Draft Budget for 2025 tomorrow

(Patria) - The BiH Presidency will discuss the Draft Law on the Budget of BiH Institutions and International Obligations for 2025 at an extraordinary session tomorrow, which was determined by the Council of Ministers of BiH at a session on November 4, after the previous Proposal did not receive support in the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliament.

The authorized proposer of the Budget is the BiH Presidency, which further forwards it to the BiH Parliament for adoption. According to Patria's information, members of the BiH Presidency Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić will likely submit certain amendments. Last time, these were funds for seven cultural institutions of state importance and for BHRT, but these amendments were not acceptable to either SNSD or HDZ. It will be clearer tomorrow who will have to abandon their demands this time.

The BiH Ministry of Finance and Treasury has planned a budget for 2025 in the amount of KM 1,570,500,000, which is an increase of KM 215,100,000 or 16 percent compared to the budget of BiH institutions for 2024. Total expenditures of BiH institutions and servicing of external debt amount to KM 2,797,273,016, of which expenditures of BiH institutions amount to KM 1,570,500,000, while servicing of BiH's external debt amounts to KM 1,226,773,016 and is lower by KM 203,960,037 or 14 percent compared to the previous year.

The Draft Budget primarily supports the continuation of reforms and the fulfillment of conditions for European Partnership and the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), as well as the adaptation of programs of the Ministry of Defense and other ministries involved in activities related to the Partnership for Peace and other forms of cooperation with NATO. Also, among the priorities are planned budget funds for the implementation of multi-year projects of budget users, as well as an increase in income for secondary vocational education in BiH institutions.

An integral part includes funds for the Central Election Commission of BiH for the procurement of equipment related to new technologies, as well as funds for financial assistance to employees in BiH institutions.

Within the budget reserve, which amounts to KM 46,740,000, approximately KM 35,500,000 is allocated for financial assistance to employees in BiH institutions in the amount of KM 1,000, due to the fact that the budget was not adopted in a timely manner, and that salaries to employees were paid based on the 2024 base of KM 600, instead of the 2025 base of KM 631.50. The Council of Ministers of BiH will pass a special decision on the payment of financial assistance after the adoption of the Budget for 2025.

Members of Parliament and delegates in the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, members of the BiH Presidency, as well as the Chairperson, ministers, and deputy ministers in the Council of Ministers of BiH will not receive financial assistance.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury is tasked with ensuring funds within the budget reserve for the Draft Budget of BiH Institutions and International Obligations of BiH for 2026, for the payment of financial compensation to employees in BiH institutions in an amount not less than KM 200, with associated taxes.