KS Assembly Adopts Several Laws, Work Programs, and Reports by a Narrow Majority of 18 Votes, Opposition to Address Press Today

(Patria) - An unusual scene marked yesterday's session of the KS Assembly. Opposition representatives from the SDA, DF, and Party for BiH clubs left the session yesterday, and despite about ten representatives remaining in the hall, Assembly Speaker Elvedin Okerić did not suspend the session but continued with the agenda items.

Some representatives were attending a session of the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament and arrived just before the vote. Thus, the agenda items were adopted with only 18 votes, which was the number of representatives present in the Assembly hall.

The opposition has announced a press conference for today and the submission of an assessment of constitutionality to the Constitutional Court of the FBiH. The opposition warned that discussions cannot be held without a quorum, and both sides referred to the Rules of Procedure. The Constitutional Court of the FBiH will have the final say on whether the decisions made are constitutional and in accordance with the law and the Rules of Procedure.

Yesterday, the Sarajevo Canton Assembly adopted four laws prepared by the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton, namely the Law on Amendments to the Law on Mining, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Concessions, the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Tourism, and the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Incentives for Small Business Development.

As stated by the relevant minister, Zlatko Mijatović, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Mining now more precisely defines the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, where the previous legal solutions were unclear regarding jurisdiction. It also more precisely prescribes the obligations of business entities engaged in the exploitation of mineral raw materials, as well as the obligations of designers.

The Law on Amendments to the Law on Concessions defines who is exempt from the obligation to sign a concession agreement for the subject of the concession, so that the Canton, the City of Sarajevo, the municipality within the Canton, public institutions, and other legal entities that are budget users and whose founder is the Canton, the City of Sarajevo, or a municipality within the Canton are exempt from the obligation to sign a concession agreement for the subject of the concession. It is determined who and when adopts ordinances on concession fees for specific areas, with the consultation of local communities on the subject of the concession.

The Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Incentives for Small Business Development introduces a clear structure of coordination and cooperation between the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton and local self-government units. For the first time, a system is established where cantonal and local institutions do not act in parallel or disconnectedly, but in synergy, through standardized four-year programs and annual plans, prescribed deadlines, reporting obligations, and unified implementation standards.

At the same time, the Draft Law opens space for innovation and adaptability in creating incentive measures. This expands the scope of support for small businesses, allowing programs to respond not only to the current situation but also to new market challenges, technological changes, and macroeconomic trends.

The Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Tourism allows for administrative relief for the tourism sector; travel agencies are no longer required to prove membership in UTA-BiH; the deadline for issuing licenses is extended to 30 days, and the validity of licenses to five years, which facilitates market access and reduces bureaucratic costs.

The establishment of a Register of Membership Fee Payers allows for accurate calculation and better collection of revenue, while updated fines ensure more effective sanctioning of irregularities.

A fairer model for calculating membership fees is proposed, based on the principle of proportionality between the benefits that individual activities derive from tourism and their financial obligations to the Tourist Board.

A public debate will be held on the drafts of these two laws.

At the same session, the Assembly accepted the work programs of all cantonal health institutions for 2025, and commented on the work reports of certain cantonal enterprises, institutes, and institutions for several previous years.

The presidents of the SDA, DF, and Party for BiH clubs in the KS Assembly will hold a press conference today at 12:00 PM to discuss their departure from the Sarajevo Canton Assembly session, the initiation of an assessment of the Assembly's constitutionality, and the filing of a criminal complaint against the Speaker of the KS Assembly for abuse of office and negligent work in service.

The presidents of the clubs will address the press: Mahir Dević (SDA), Albin Zuhrić (DF), and Muamer Bandić (Party for BiH).