Novalić asks FUCZ and the Association of Municipalities and Cities to find a way to finance civil protection

Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fadil Novalić held a meeting today at the seat of the Government of FBiH in Sarajevo with representatives of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of BiH. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of the Government of FBiH Edita Kalajdžić and the Director of the Federal Administration for Civil Protection Fahrudin Solak, as well as the mayors of seven municipalities from the Federation of BiH.

The meeting was organized to conduct consultations on the working text of the law on amendments to the Law on Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural and Other Disasters.

Prime Minister Novalić emphasized that today's meeting aims to exchange opinions between the Government and the Association on this issue, and pointed out that the amendments to this law are not intended to abolish municipal civil protection, but only to find new sources of their financing.

In the part of the Reform Agenda related to reducing the burden on business entities, as well as creating a more favorable environment for the growth and development of economic activities, it was assessed that the payment of a special fee for protection from natural and other disasters from the funds of legal entities, which employers set aside in accordance with the Law on Protection and Rescue of People and Material Goods from Natural and Other Disasters, significantly hinders the operations of business entities, economic development, and the intensification of economic activities in FBiH. Also, the Federation of BiH committed to amendments to this law in the Letter of Intent to the International Monetary Fund.

The Federal Prime Minister concluded that representatives of the Federal Administration for Civil Protection and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of FBiH should jointly find the best solution for new sources of financing to offer to the Government of FBiH for consideration.

Incidentally, some mayors previously warned that if allocations for civil protection are abolished, municipalities will be left without civil protection, and in the event of some natural and other disasters, they are the first to provide assistance.