Package of three laws to help flood-affected areas at an extraordinary session of the FBiH Parliament

The Government of the Federation of BiH adopted a package of three laws on June 5 to help those affected by floods, which, after adoption by the FBiH Parliament, will very quickly activate financial aid, mostly from internal reserves exceeding 200 million marks.

The Government sent the law on establishing a fund for aid, the law on financing aid, and the law enabling the allocation of state real estate to those who lost their homes in floods and landslides to the FBiH Parliament under an urgent procedure.

As confirmed to Patria by Safet Softić, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament, consultations are currently underway with the House of Peoples and collegium members to determine when extraordinary sessions will be held.

All three laws, if adopted, will enable fast, efficient, and transparent assistance to tens of thousands of households affected by the unprecedented floods last month. Namely, the largest aid package will be unblocked by the adoption of the Law on Financing Aid to Those Affected by Natural Disasters, which will enable the Federation, cantons, and municipalities to reallocate funds they already have. The explanation of this solution states that funds will be allocated exclusively to beneficiaries in areas defined by the Decision of the Government of the Federation of BiH on declaring a state of natural disaster in the FBiH, caused by heavy rainfall that resulted in floods in the FBiH.

The third law in the package, which was urgently sent to the BiH Parliament, enables all levels of government to allocate land and real estate to citizens and companies who have lost their homes or facilities in landslides and floods, and to exempt them from paying all taxes related to that property, which would be mandatory under current regulations.

The Government also adopted a law on establishing a special fund that would prioritize the distribution of international and domestic donations for flood-affected areas.

- The Government of the FBiH expects that, as soon as the Fund is established, there will be millions of marks in its accounts, as decisions on large donor amounts have already been made by public companies. The Fund will be a government body with a Management Board composed ex officio of the Prime Minister and five line ministers. There will also be five members from the donor community, proposed by the Employers' Association - the law's explanation states.

The Fund will be headed by a director selected through a competition, who will be appointed by the FBiH Government. A fund council will also be formed, comprising representatives of cantons and non-governmental organizations, reports NAP.

Sources of funds for this Fund include multilateral and bilateral aid programs, funds from the budgets of all levels of government in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, grant funds from international organizations and other countries, donations from domestic and foreign business companies and citizens, loans based on signed project agreements, and other funds secured by the Government in accordance with special laws and other regulations.