House of Representatives of PS BiH Session: Zvizdić's Proposal on the Supreme Court of BiH on the Agenda

(Patria) - The House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to consider the principles of the Bill on the Supreme Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina at today's session, proposed by MP Denis Zvizdić (NIP).

Before the session of the House, a session of the Constitutional-Legal Committee is scheduled, which is expected to consider the compliance with the Constitution and legal system of BiH, as well as the principles of the proposed law for the second time.

Namely, at its session at the end of February, the House of Representatives did not accept the previously submitted negative opinion of the Constitutional-Legal Committee and returned the proposed law to it for reconsideration and submission of a new report.

The proposed law regulates the organization, jurisdiction, public nature of work, financing, and all other issues related to the establishment and functioning of the Supreme Court of BiH as the highest cassation court in BiH, which ensures the consistent interpretation of law throughout the territory of BiH.

The proposer of the law, Denis Zvizdić, previously stated that there are several reasons why he believes this law is necessary.

According to him, BiH is the only country in the region that does not have a Supreme Court and the only country in Europe that does not have a Supreme Court or an institution equivalent to a supreme court, in terms of a body responsible for harmonizing judicial practice.

Zvizdić stated that the need to establish a supreme court is clearly defined in the Opinion on BiH's application for EU membership.

The House of Representatives is also expected to consider the principles of the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Defense of BiH, proposed by the House of Peoples of the State Parliament after the proposal of Marina Pendeš (HDZ BiH) was adopted.

As stated in the explanation of the proposed law, the reason for its adoption is to fill a legal gap in the current regulation.

It was explained that Article 10 of the Law on Defense of BiH stipulates that the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH is competent to confirm the appointment of the Chief and Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces; the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Operational Command of the Armed Forces; the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Support Command of the Armed Forces, and all officers with the rank of general in the Armed Forces.

It is equally stipulated that the Parliamentary Assembly confirms appointments within 45 days from the date the Presidency of BiH submits its decision on appointment.

It was stated that the current law does not stipulate what happens when the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH does not confirm the decision of the Presidency of BiH within the deadline, "and there have been situations where individuals performed their duties without a valid appointment decision".

The proposed amendments to the law would resolve this by obliging the minister to submit a new proposal for a decision to the Presidency of BiH, and the procedure would be repeated.

The House of Representatives is also expected to consider the principles of the Bill on Amendments to the Law on Foreigners, proposed by MP Nihad Omerović (NIP).

Among other things, the agenda is expected to include the Proposal of the Decision on the Appointment of the Council of the Communications Regulatory Agency of BiH, as well as several different reports, and several parliamentary initiatives.