Council of Ministers of BiH unanimously adopted the Economic Reform Program 2025-2027.

(Patria) - The 73rd session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held today in Sarajevo.

PER BiH 2025-2027.

The Council of Ministers of BiH unanimously adopted and will send the Economic Reform Program of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PER BiH) for the period 2025-2027 to the European Commission, which was prepared by the Directorate for Economic Planning with the consent of the coordinators of all levels of government in BiH and an additional conclusion at the session.

The Economic Reform Program of BiH is a strategic document for the coordination and planning of economic policies, management of reforms crucial for improving competitiveness, fostering opportunities for new jobs and social inclusion, as well as for meeting economic criteria in the pre-accession process.

The Program was prepared according to the European Commission's Guidelines and is one of the key documents in the economic dialogue with the EU in the process of accession and achieving a functional market economy.

PER BiH 2025-2027. in one of its chapters contains structural reforms focused on competitiveness, sustainability and resilience, as well as human capital and social policies.

At the same time, it presents projections of the average economic growth rate of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period 2025-2027 of about 3% annually, and the growth is based on domestic demand through increased private consumption and investments.

IBRD Loan

The Council of Ministers of BiH determined the Draft Loan Agreement (Second Programmatic Development Policy Loan for the Health Sector) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), with the Basis for its conclusion.

The main goal of the program is to support the financing of development policies (DPL 2) of the health sector in BiH as part of reform programs aimed at the long-term financial sustainability of health systems and improving the quality of health services and outcomes.

The total loan amount is EUR 71,000,000, with an allocation of EUR 42,600,000 (60%) to the Federation of BiH and EUR 28,400,000 (40%) to Republika Srpska. The loan repayment period is 18 years, with a grace period of five years.

The draft of this agreement with the Basis for its conclusion will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH for further procedure, with the proposal that the Minister of Finance and Treasury of BiH be appointed as the signatory.

EBRD Grant

The Council of Ministers of BiH determined the Draft Grant Agreement (Energy Efficiency of Public Buildings in the Tuzla Canton - GrCF2 W2 E2) between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which relates to an investment grant from the European Joint Fund for the Western Balkans, worth two million euros.

The grant funds are directed towards financing energy efficiency measures that will cover up to 173 public buildings in the Tuzla Canton.

The goal is to introduce cleaner and more efficient heating, better insulation and lighting, which will result in primary energy savings of at least 30% compared to the baseline value.

The non-reimbursable funds will be allocated to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, i.e., the Tuzla Canton, which is thus joining the EBRD's green cities project.

The draft grant agreement with the Basis for its conclusion will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH for further decision-making, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury has been proposed as the BiH signatory.

Gradačac Water Supply

At the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Draft Decision on the ratification of the Agreement on Amendments No. 1 to the Grant Agreement of October 26, 2020, regarding the investment grant from the European Joint Fund for the Western Balkans for the "Gradačac Water Supply Project" was determined and will be sent to the Presidency of BiH.

By the amendment to the agreement, which was signed on December 3, 2024, in Sarajevo, a total grant amount of EUR 2,457,500 is awarded, which increases the initially approved grant intended for the reconstruction and replacement of existing pipes and the improvement of the water supply system, which has insufficient capacity and an outdated network in the central city area of Gradačac.

Work Permits

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, adopted the Decision on determining the annual quota of work permits for the employment of foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025.

The total annual quota of work permits for the extension and new employment of foreigners in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025 is 7,229 work permits and has increased compared to last year, when it was 6,073.

Of the total number, 4,490 are allocated to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2,000 to Republika Srpska, and 739 to Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This quota also includes work permits by activities and professions that can be issued for seasonal employment of foreigners in accordance with the Law on Foreigners.

The largest number of work permits were issued for construction (1,727), manufacturing industry (887), and hospitality and catering (584).

By adopting this decision, the needs of the BiH labor market are met more effectively without jeopardizing the supply of domestic labor, ensuring greater control of the labor market and reducing illegal employment of foreign nationals.

Regardless of this annual quota of work permits for the employment of foreigners in BiH, work permits can also be issued in cases prescribed by Article 65 of the Law on Foreigners.

Agreement with GAVI

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Information of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on activities regarding the distribution of unspent funds related to the Vaccine Procurement Agreement with the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAVI) against COVID-19, concluded between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and GAVI.

In this regard, a transfer of funds in the amount of BAM 14,290,813.31 to the budgets of the entities and Brčko District of BiH was approved, namely for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina BAM 9,329,813.05, for Republika Srpska BAM 4,619,901.56, and for Brčko District of BiH BAM 341,098.70.

This confirms the agreement of the health authorities in BiH who financed the vaccine procurement regarding the distribution of unspent funds.

The Ministry of Finance and Treasury, in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, will carry out the refund of funds, in accordance with the conclusions of the governments of the entities and Brčko District of BiH and the submitted payment instructions.

At the same time, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, in cooperation with the competent institutions of the entities and Brčko District, is obliged to agree on the principle of distributing the remaining funds in the amount of BAM 3,615,115.84, and to submit a request to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury of BiH to refund the funds to the budgets of the entities and Brčko District of BiH.

Bosnian Citizenship in Sports

The Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Decision on acquiring Bosnian citizenship, by which German citizen Vitaly Janelt, a footballer and potential representative of the BiH national football team, was admitted to BiH citizenship, with the recommendation of the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Security Checks

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security, adopted the Decision on appointing a Commission for resolving appeals in the security vetting procedure due to the expiry of the mandate of the previous members, with a correction at the session.

Five members of this commission are representatives of the state ministries of security, defense, justice, the Intelligence-Security Agency, and the State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA), with a four-year mandate.

The responsibilities of this commission are defined by the provisions of the personal data protection law and related bylaws.

Resignation at Personal Request

The Council of Ministers of BiH dismissed Aleksandra Ćirić from the position of member of the Council for State Aid of Bosnia and Herzegovina at her personal request.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations is obliged to urgently conduct the tender procedure and submit a proposal for the appointment of one member to the Council of Ministers of BiH, in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

Radmila Čičković was appointed as acting member until the completion of the tender procedure, for a maximum of three months.

Initiating a Vote of No Confidence

The Council of Ministers of BiH was informed about the Request for initiating a vote of no confidence in the reconstruction of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, submitted by the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH.

This concerns the Initiative for the dismissal of the Deputy Ministers of Defense Aleksandar Goganović, Transport and Communications Ognjen Janjić, and Civil Affairs Marijana Mojić.

The initiative was signed by the presidents of the caucuses of the SDP BiH, NiP, and NS in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and eight deputies from these parties.

Consent for Appointment

The Council of Ministers of BiH gave consent for the appointment of Colonel Donald C. D. Hilton as Canada's Defense Attaché for Bosnia and Herzegovina, based in Belgrade.