Decisions from the BiH Council of Ministers Session

(Patria) - The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adopted the Proposal for a Decision on the ratification of the Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and non-European Union countries on their participation in the Community's early information exchange arrangements in the event of a radiological emergency (Ecurie).

The Proposal for a Decision will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH for further ratification procedure.

The aim of the Agreement is to ensure effective and timely exchange of data between Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU countries during emergencies caused by radiological hazards.

By acceding to this agreement, Bosnia and Herzegovina will improve the system of protection against ionizing radiation and protect the health of the population and the environment from its potential negative effects, which may arise from emergency situations involving radioactive and nuclear materials.

It will also strengthen the capacities for implementing international obligations in accordance with the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and improve the possibilities for obtaining international assistance regarding system monitoring.

BiH's accession to this agreement is also important from the aspect of further approximation and institutionalization of relations with the European Union in the stabilization and association process.

Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications

The Council of Ministers of BiH also adopted and will submit to the Presidency of BiH the Proposal for a Decision on the ratification of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the Global Convention will enable the strengthening of interregional academic mobility, promote the enhancement of international cooperation in higher education, democratize higher education, and provide opportunities for lifelong learning for all.

The Global Convention on the Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications was adopted at the 40th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held at the end of 2019. The Presidency of BiH, at its 12th regular session on March 11, 2024, adopted a Decision on Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to this convention and authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH to sign the Instrument of Accession.

Mobility of Professionals within the Region

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Proposal for a Decision on the ratification of the Agreement on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Nurses, Veterinarians, Pharmacists, and Midwives in the Context of the Central European Free Trade Agreement. The Proposal for a Decision will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH for further procedure.

The Agreement on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Nurses, Veterinarians, Pharmacists, and Midwives in the Context of the Central European Free Trade Agreement was signed by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of BiH, Borjana Krišto, on October 16, 2023, in Tirana, during the Western Balkans Summit within the Berlin Process.

This is an agreement that facilitates the mobility of professionals within the region by automatically recognizing the professional qualifications of nurses, veterinarians, pharmacists, and midwives, thereby strengthening regional cooperation and boosting the economic development of the Western Balkans.

BiH in the EURO MED Program

The Council of Ministers of BiH also adopted and will submit to the Presidency of BiH the Proposal for a Decision on the ratification of the Financing Agreement for the Interreg VI-B EURO MEDITERRANEAN (EURO MED) Program for the period 2021-2027 between the European Union, represented by the European Commission, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by the Directorate for European Integration of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the French Republic, represented by the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

The Agreement sets out the conditions for financing and implementing the program in BiH, with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), as well as national co-financing of the program.

The total budget of the program is set at EUR 293,624,033, with the total financial contribution from the European Union being EUR 234,899,226, while EUR 58,724,807 will be co-financed by the participating countries.

The general objective of the program is to promote sustainable growth in the Mediterranean area by fostering innovative concepts and practices and the rational use of resources, through an integrated territorial approach based on cooperation.

The implementation period of this agreement is 15 years from the date it is signed by the last party.

The EURO MED program is implemented by Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia.

Cross-border Cooperation Croatia – BiH – Montenegro

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adopted the Proposal for a Decision on the ratification of the Financing Agreement for the Interreg VI-A IPA cross-border cooperation program Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro.

The Proposal for a Decision on the ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro on the implementation of the "Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro 2021-2027 Program" was also adopted.

The Proposals for Decisions will be sent to the Presidency of BiH for further ratification procedure.

The Agreements were signed on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Director of the Directorate for European Integration of BiH, Elvira Habota, on April 1, 2024, in Sarajevo.

The aim of this IPA program is to strengthen the social, economic, and territorial development of the cross-border area through interventions in the fields of innovation, competitiveness, social welfare, environmental protection, and tourism.

The total budget of the program is EUR 138,453,765, of which the EU's financial contribution is EUR 117,685,699, and the remaining EUR 20,768,066 represents co-financing from the participating countries.

The implementation period of this agreement is 15 years from the date it is signed by the last party.

Trgovska Gora Case

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Information on the determination of criteria for announcing a public call for the selection of an international law firm for legal advisory services regarding the cross-border environmental impact assessment procedure for the planned storage of radioactive waste at the Trgovska Gora site.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, in cooperation with the BiH Ombudsman's Office, is tasked with initiating the process of announcing a public tender for the selection of an international law firm, in accordance with the determined criteria.

The Council of Ministers of BiH will, by a separate decision, at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, allocate funds in the budget of this ministry to cover the costs of engaging an international law firm, determining the amount of funds and the source of financing.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH is tasked with reporting to the Council of Ministers of BiH every six months, and more often if necessary, on the activities carried out by the international law firm.

Amendment to the Rulebook

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adopted the Rulebook on the Amendment to the Rulebook on Salaries, Allowances, and Benefits of Personnel in Diplomatic-Consular Missions (DCMs) of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The amendments to the rulebook define that the compensation for housing rental for DCM staff will be calculated in previously defined percentages of the employee's salary, applying a zero coefficient of the corresponding pay grade, which will enable the payment of compensation in approximately equal amounts and ensure equal treatment of employees.

This will eliminate different interpretations and prevent unequal practices regarding the calculation of housing rental compensation in the DCM network by applying an internal higher coefficient resulting from the Methodology for assigning employees within a pay grade.

No additional financial resources are required for the implementation of this Rulebook, as the calculation of housing rental compensation is already done by applying the zero coefficient of the corresponding pay grade.

Admission of Cadets to Police Agencies

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, adopted the Decision on determining the Plan for admitting cadets to police agencies at the level of BiH institutions in 2024.

The Decision establishes the Plan for admitting cadets, namely to the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) with 15 cadets each for the ranks of police officer and junior inspector, to the Border Police (GP) of BiH with 150 cadets for the rank of police officer, and to the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies (DKPT) of BiH with 50 cadets for the rank of police officer.

Funds for the payment of compensation to cadets and for financing the employment of police officers will be provided in the budgets of SIPA, GP BiH, and DKPT, while other funds necessary for the training of cadets will be in the budget of the Agency for Education and Professional Training.

Increased Number of Irregular Migrants

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Information from the Ministry of Security on the situation in the field of migration in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first three months of 2024, which will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH and the Joint Committee on Defence and Security of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

In the first three months of this year, 1,950 temporary residence permits were granted to foreigners in BiH, with the main reasons for granting the first temporary residence being education, work with a work permit, and work without a work permit. Simultaneously, 1,555 temporary residence permits were extended for family reunification and work with or without a work permit.

The largest number of first or extended temporary residence permits were granted to citizens of Turkey, followed by Serbia, Croatia, India, Montenegro, Nepal, China, and Sri Lanka. At the same time, 110 permanent residence permits were granted, with the largest number to citizens of Montenegro, Croatia, and North Macedonia.

In the first three months of 2024, 6,544 irregular migrants were registered, which is an increase of 26 percent compared to 5,200 registered in the same period of 2023.

In the reporting period, 3,928 individuals were registered for illegal crossing or attempted illegal crossing of the state border (1,434 entering and 2,494 exiting BiH), which is 60 percent more than in the same period of 2023. The individuals detected crossing illegally were mostly citizens of Syria (1,010), Turkey (470), Afghanistan (375), Morocco (202), and Pakistan (98).

During the reporting period, equipment for document inspection was procured, as well as medium-range multisensor border surveillance systems to be installed on existing vehicles, and thematic training was conducted to increase the effectiveness of state border protection.

Twenty-two individuals who completed training for the rank of junior inspector have been employed, while the training of 98 cadets for the rank of 'police officer' is ongoing.

Border surveillance and protection are also ensured through cooperation with the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies, the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska, and cantonal Ministries of Internal Affairs and the Police of Brčko District BiH. Furthermore, cooperation with Frontex is reflected in the planning and implementation of training and joint operations.

'Sejdić-Finci' Verdict

The Council of Ministers of BiH took note of the Information from the Office of the Agent of the Council of Ministers of BiH before the European Court of Human Rights regarding the Interim Resolution CM/ResDH(2023)481 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of December 7, 2023, on the execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the Sejdić and Finci group v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, app. no. 27996/06.

All three agents of BiH before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are tasked with attending the exchange of views at the 1501st session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, to be held in June 2024, to assess the progress made in executing the judgment.

Pesticides in and on Food

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Report of the Food Safety Agency of BiH on the implementation of the Program for Monitoring Pesticide Residues in and on Food of Plant and Animal Origin in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2023.

The report provides detailed information on control activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the main goal of which is to achieve a high level of protection for human life and health, and presents an overview of their results.

According to the data from the Report, out of a total of 155 analyzed samples in 2023, 37.4% contained pesticide residues at or above the limit of quantification, which is a decrease compared to 2022 (46.2%). In 6.4% of the samples, the presence of residues of active substances above the maximum permitted level was found, but within the limits of measurement uncertainty, and there were no non-compliant samples.

Out of a total of 58 samples in which pesticide residues were detected, 32 samples contained residues of more than one active substance above the limit of quantification. According to current EU legislation, the presence of multiple residues in a sample remains compliant as long as each individual residue level does not exceed the individual MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) set for each active substance. The competent inspection authorities have been informed of the results of the laboratory analyses for 10 samples that had quantified pesticide residue values above the prescribed MRL, within the limits of measurement uncertainty, in order to strengthen control over importers/producers of the given products.

The results of the implemented control program show that certain detected active substances are compliant with the prescribed MRL in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but are not compliant with the valid regulations in the EU. This can result in endangering human health in BiH, creating obstacles to the free movement of food, and creating unequal market conditions, and directly impacts market functioning.

The Food Safety Agency of BiH is tasked with continuing to carry out all necessary activities within its jurisdiction and in cooperation with the competent authorities of BiH, entities, and Brčko District BiH in the future, related to the planning, preparation, and implementation of the program for monitoring pesticide residues in and on food of plant and animal origin in BiH.

It is recommended that the competent inspection authorities of BiH, the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska, Brčko District BiH, and the cantons use the data provided in the Report on the implementation of the Program for Monitoring Pesticide Residues in and on Food of Plant and Animal Origin in BiH for 2023 when developing control plans and planning official controls, so that they are based on risk assessment.

Response to S. Sabljica's Complaint

The Council of Ministers of BiH determined the Response to the complaint of Samir Sabljica, submitted to the Institution of the Ombudsman for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating that no labeling or questioning of the complainant's reputation and dignity occurred during his appointment to the position of Deputy Coordinator for Public Administration Reform.

Credit Application to the Council of Europe Development Bank

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, has given its consent to the microcredit organization Eki to submit a credit application to the Council of Europe Development Bank for partial financing of microcredits for households and micro-enterprises, in accordance with Articles II and VII of the Statute (Articles of Agreement) of the Council of Europe Development Bank.

This concerns a credit request in the amount of three million euros, and the obligation to give consent is not linked to the borrowing of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the issuance of sovereign state guarantees.

OPEC Fund Loan

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, has given its consent to the OPEC Fund for International Development for the realization of a credit line to Raiffeisen Bank d.d. BiH in accordance with the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

The OPEC Fund for International Development is granting a loan to Raiffeisen Bank d.d. BiH in the amount of EUR 12,500,000.00 to support small and medium-sized enterprises in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Raiffeisen Bank d.d. BiH, as the borrower, bears the full risk of loan repayment, the risk of financing in the target sector, and provides the lender with all necessary coverage and guarantees for loan approval.

The obligation to give consent for investments carried out by the OPEC Fund for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina arises from Article III of the Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investments between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the OPEC Fund for International Development and is not linked to the borrowing of Bosnia and Herzegovina or the issuance of sovereign state guarantees.

Appointments

The Council of Ministers of BiH appointed Marko Kubatlija as the Director of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of BiH (FIPA).

Based on the conducted Public Advertisement, a Decision on the appointment of Enis Horozović as the Director of the Mine Action Centre in BiH was made. Ivan Dunđer and Biljana Ristić were appointed as Assistant Directors.

Srđan Šekara was appointed as the Director of the Fund for Returnees of BiH.