PSBiH adopts Code of Conduct for delegates and deputies in the Parliament

At the 18th session of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PSBiH), the Draft Law on Asylum, proposed by the Council of Ministers of BiH, was adopted in its first reading, reports the Patria news agency.

Also adopted in the first reading were the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Consumer Protection in BiH and the Draft Law on Foreigners, proposed by the Council of Ministers of BiH.

Under an urgent procedure, the Draft Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives of the PSBiH were adopted, relating to the immunity of deputies and the authentic interpretation of laws and other general acts.

Together with eight amendments from the Opinion of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the PSBiH, the Draft Code of Conduct for deputies and delegates in the PSBiH was adopted, proposed by the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the PSBiH.

The Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Sports in BiH, proposed by deputy Maja Gasal-Vražalica, was not adopted in the first reading.

After the negative Opinion of the Constitutional and Legal Committee was adopted, the Draft Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives of the PSBiH, proposed by deputy Damir Arnaut, was rejected.

The deputy initiative of Denis Bećirović, which tasked the Council of Ministers of BiH to, no later than six months from the date of adoption of this initiative, draft and submit to the parliamentary procedure a Draft Law on the Supreme Court of BiH, was not adopted.

A conclusion by deputy Sadik Ahmetović was adopted, which reads: „The Council of Ministers of BiH is tasked with submitting information on the application of the Framework Law on Primary and Secondary Education in BiH, with an emphasis on the study of the 'national group of subjects' and the study of the mother tongue throughout the territory of BiH.“

A conclusion was adopted obligating the Interdepartmental Working Group for amending the electoral legislation of BiH to draft a Proposal for a Law on Amendments to the Law on Financing Political Parties with the aim of implementing GRECO recommendations. The working group, in addition to six members from the PSBiH, also consists of three members each from the Central Election Commission of BiH and the Council of Ministers of BiH.

A conclusion was also adopted on the appointment of representatives of the PSBiH to the Working Group for monitoring the situation and activities related to the possible construction of a nuclear waste repository at the Trgovska Gora location, Dvor municipality. From the House of Representatives of the PSBiH, Diana Zelenika, Borislav Bojić, and Jasmin Emrić were appointed to the Working Group. In connection with this, a conclusion was also adopted tasking the Council of Ministers of BiH to draft objections to the Draft National Program for the Implementation of the Strategy for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste, Used Sources, and Spent Nuclear Fuel of the Republic of Croatia, which, based on expert analyses and established facts, can challenge the possibilities of building a radioactive waste repository in the area of Trgovska Gora, micro-location Čerkezovac in the Republic of Croatia, and to submit them to the State Institute for Radiological and Nuclear Safety of the Republic of Croatia by October 24, 2015.

The House adopted a conclusion on the establishment of a Temporary Joint Committee of both houses of the PSBiH for the preparation and submission to the parliamentary procedure of the Draft Law on Parliamentary Oversight. From the House of Representatives of the PSBiH, Salko Sokolović, Borislav Bojić, and Predrag Kožul were appointed to the Temporary Joint Committee. As stated in the conclusion, the Law on Parliamentary Oversight must fulfill the basic objectives for which it is adopted, namely improving the efficiency, transparency, and functionality of the institutions under oversight, without limiting the subject of the law to security and defense institutions. One of the goals of the Law, as stated, would also be effective control over the implementation of established policies based on compromise by the institutions over which the PSBiH exercises control activities. Also, the Law should sublimate and elaborate all provisions of the houses' rules of procedure that directly or indirectly relate to the subject of the law, especially the part concerning public hearings in committees.

The Information of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (UN CEDAW) was noted.

The House of Representatives of the PSBiH appointed Jelena Gotovac as a member of the Appeals Review Office in Sarajevo from the Serbian people, as an expert in administrative law and/or administrative procedure. As a member of the Appeals Review Office in Sarajevo, the House appointed Dragana Šobot, as an expert in the field of construction works, public procurement, transport, and strategic management. The House of Representatives of the PSBiH appointed Slaviša Bjelogrlić, Samir Buljina, and Mirjana Antunović as members of the Appeals Review Office in the Mostar branch, as experts in administrative law and/or administrative procedure. As experts in administrative law and/or administrative procedure, for members of the Appeals Review Office of the Banja Luka branch, the House appointed Radomir Pašić, Arif Nanić, and Marko Kolobarić. The House appointed Tomislav Čužić and Alma Salkić – Mijić as members of the Appeals Review Office in the Mostar branch, as experts in the field of construction works, public procurement, transport, and strategic management.

For members of the Appeals Review Office in the Banja Luka branch, as experts in the field of construction works, public procurement, transport, and strategic management, the House of Representatives of the PSBiH appointed Ismet Bećiragić and Dragan Ilić.

The House gave consent for the ratification of several international agreements and treaties (attachment). (end)

The House of Representatives of the PSBiH gave consent for the ratification of:

- Convention between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Poland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital
- Protocol on Sediment Management to the Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin
- Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Moldova on Visa-Free Travel for Citizens
- Treaty between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on the Rights and Obligations of Using Water from Public Water Supply Systems Intersected by the State Border
- Grant Agreement of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Preparation of the Regional Project for the Management of the Drina River Basin, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development acting as the Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility
- Grant Agreement of the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) for the Preparation of the Regional Project for the Management of the Drina River Basin, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development acting as the Implementing Agency of the Special Climate Change Fund
- Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Russian Federation on Readmission and the Implementation Protocol on Procedures for the Application of the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Russian Federation on Readmission
- Agreement between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Union's Customs 2020 Programme
- Bilateral Treaty between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Italy supplementing the European Convention on Extradition of December 13, 1957, with a view to expanding and facilitating its application.