First time a state body of BiH proposes legal regulation of the natural gas sector

(Patria) - At the proposal of BiH Presidency member Denis Bećirović, at the 8th regular session the Presidency of BiH adopted a proposal for a state law on natural gas transport, regulator and internal market in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bećirović addressed the public on this occasion.

"Today, at the eighth regular session, the Presidency of BiH adopted a proposal for a state Law on Natural Gas Transport, Regulator and Internal Market in BiH. This is the first time that a state body of BiH proposes legal regulation of the natural gas sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the proposer of this law, I proved with arguments that inter-entity transport is a state competence," said Bećirović.

He stated that the Constitution of BiH, in Article 3, prescribes that regulating inter-entity transport is the competence of the Institutions of BiH. Also, the Constitution, through relevant provisions in Article 1, paragraph 4, defines a single market and guarantees the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons.

"With the transport of gas through the two entities, the basic precondition for gas to be regulated at the state level is fulfilled. This is not about a transfer of competences; on the contrary, it is the fulfillment of a constitutional obligation, and that is its most important part – inter-entity transport," said Bećirović.

He recalled that it is no coincidence that Elektroprijenos BiH and the regulator for electricity were formed at the state level, and that Elektroprijenos is yet another proof that the energy sector must first be regulated at the level of the state of BiH. A pioneering step for fulfilling obligations from Annex 9 is precisely the formation of Elektroprijenos BiH.

"The state gas law must be harmonized with relevant constitutional and assumed contractual obligations in the field of the natural gas sector. It must be in line with the EU's third energy package and the EU acquis. No Bosnian-Herzegovinian party should give up on this solution. The task of Bosnian-Herzegovinian oriented politicians is not to fulfill Dodik's destructive wishes, but to harmonize the BiH legal system with EU standards and norms. The law is very important for BiH and is aligned with the relevant acquis and best EU practices," concluded Bećirović.