Presidency of BiH requests report from Council of Ministers: BiH's EU membership application by December 31

The Presidency of BiH has tasked the Council of Ministers of BiH to submit a report for the next session on BiH's readiness to submit an application for membership in the European Union, which BiH will submit no later than December 31, 2015, reports the Patria News Agency.

The Presidency of BiH took note of the Information on the negotiation process so far for the conclusion of the Protocol to the Interim Agreement – Stabilisation and Association Agreement, in order to take into account the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, and the Information from the technical meeting regarding the Protocol on the extension of the Interim Agreement – Stabilisation and Association Agreement, held on May 29, 2015. The Council of Ministers of BiH is tasked with taking all necessary measures to conclude the Protocol to the Interim Agreement by January 1, 2016.

The Presidency of BiH adopted the Report on the execution of the Budget of BiH institutions and international obligations of BiH for the period January-June 2015, which will be submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

Report on the participation of the BiH Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions

The Presidency of BiH accepted the Report on the participation of members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and police officers in peacekeeping operations, in the period from January 1 to June 30, 2015. The Presidency of BiH proposes that the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH deem it justified and approve the continuation of the participation of members of the Armed Forces of BiH and police officers in peacekeeping operations, namely in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Mali, in the NATO-led mission "Resolute Support" in Afghanistan, in the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and in the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), or Abyei (UNISFA), and the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

The Presidency of BiH took note of the Information on the participation of the delegation of the Ministry of Defence of BiH at the European Defence Summit, and the signing of the agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union on establishing a framework for the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in EU crisis management operations.

The Presidency of BiH adopted the Conclusion that Bosnia and Herzegovina will undertake activities related to proposing a resolution for the establishment of the Universal Code on Holy Sites, as well as for negotiating, lobbying and finally adopting this resolution at the United Nations General Assembly.

The Presidency of BiH approved the conclusion of the Donation Agreement between the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Ministry of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport of Switzerland, on the donation of material resources for fire protection and related equipment and their transport from Switzerland, and the Letters of Exchange on the donation of spare parts for forklifts, and

the Agreement on the implementation of the project "Genetically non-GMO quality soybeans from the Danube region – Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia" between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH and the German Development Agency GIZ.

The Presidency of BiH adopted the Decision on accepting the Trade Agreement between BiH and Georgia, and the Decision on initiating the procedure for negotiations for the conclusion of the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia on mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses.

Decisions on ratification of agreements

Decisions on the ratification of the following were also adopted:

- Note Verbale – exchange of notes between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of Japan on the implementation of grant aid from the Government of Japan to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the procurement of new generation vehicles,

- Note Verbale – exchange of notes between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of Japan on the implementation of grant aid from the Government of Japan to Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2014,

- Grant Agreement between the Council of Europe Development Bank and Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning the Regional Housing Programme in BiH 2 (2013),

- Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on international road transport of passengers and goods,

- Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine,

- Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU programme Fiscalis 2020,

- Addendum to the Financing Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Commission concerning the cross-border cooperation programme Bosnia and Herzegovina - Montenegro within the cross-border cooperation component of the IPA programme for 2011,

- Implementation Protocol between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Slovak Republic on the application of the Agreement between the European Community and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the readmission of persons residing without authorization,

- Agreement on the Establishment of the ST-EP International Organization (Sustainable Tourism for the Elimination of Poverty),

- Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Turkey, it was announced from the BiH Presidency.