Council of Ministers of BiH Adopts Draft Law on Restricting Property Disposal to Prevent Terrorism

(Patria) - The 105th session of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held today in Sarajevo.

Property Disposal

The Council of Ministers of BiH unanimously adopted and will forward to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH for consideration under an urgent legislative procedure the Draft Law on Restricting Property Disposal to Prevent Terrorism, Financing of Terrorism, and Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The aim is to establish a reliable, timely, and complete mechanism for the implementation of sanctions.

The reform law, prepared by the Ministry of Security in cooperation with relevant institutions, addresses a key systemic deficiency identified in the report of the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Measures (MONEYVAL), which assessed in December 2024 that BiH lacks a functional and complete system for implementing international financial sanctions.

The provisions of this law ensure the urgent, immediate, and effective implementation of decisions of the UN Security Council and its sanctions committees, as well as decisions of BiH institutions and other measures, and full compliance with the relevant FATF recommendations, thereby fulfilling our country's international obligations and protecting its financial system.

By systematically regulating the prohibition of temporary property disposal to prevent or finance terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, while respecting the principles of legality and legal certainty, and by clearly defining procedures and specifying competent authorities, supervisory bodies, and obligated entities implementing the measures of this law, a broader legal basis is created for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing in BiH.

The proposed law is of exceptional importance for preserving the international reputation of BiH and avoiding entry into the FATF's ICRG (International Co-operation Review Group) process.

Air Traffic Safety

At the proposal of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, the text of the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, the Government of Hungary, the Government of North Macedonia, the Government of Montenegro, the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the Government of the Slovak Republic, and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia on Cooperation and Coordination in Aviation Search and Rescue was adopted, and the Draft Basis for its conclusion was determined.

In this way, Bosnia and Herzegovina joins the signatory countries in strengthening regional cooperation in the area of search and rescue in case of aviation accidents, in accordance with ICAO standards derived from the Chicago Convention and its annexes.

The Draft Basis for Conclusion, along with the text of this agreement, will be submitted to the Presidency of BiH for further decision-making procedure and authorization for the Minister of Communications and Transport to sign.

Vienna and Paris Conventions

The Council of Ministers of BiH determined the Draft Decision on the Ratification of the Joint Protocol relating to the application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit to the Presidency of BiH for further ratification procedure.

The Joint Protocol links the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy, enabling extended protection and mutual recognition of liability between signatory states.

Public Administration Reform

The session adopted the Information from the Directorate for European Integration of the Council of Ministers of BiH on the ninth meeting of the Steering Group on Public Administration Reform between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be held on April 24, 2026, in Brussels.

During the meeting, discussions at the political and technical levels are planned on the most important topics and issues related to the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement concerning public administration reform.

The meeting will be held in two sessions, and the Minister of Justice of BiH, who will be available to the media for statements regarding this meeting, will lead the BiH delegation during the high-level political dialogue, and the coordinator for public administration reform during the technical-level discussions.

Transfer of Weapons

At the proposal of the Ministry of Security, the Council of Ministers of BiH adopted the Rulebook on the Method of Controlling the Transfer of Weapons and Ammunition across the State Border, prepared by a working group composed of representatives of competent BiH institutions in accordance with the obligations arising from the new Law on Border Control.

This rulebook prescribes the method of controlling the transfer of weapons and ammunition across the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, carried out by police officers of the Border Police of BiH and customs officers of the Indirect Taxation Authority during the control of BiH and foreign citizens.

An integral part of this rulebook are the application form for transferring weapons and ammunition across the state border and the confirmation of receipt of weapons and ammunition for transport.

ECtHR Judgment

The session adopted the Information from the Office of the Agent of the Council of Ministers of BiH before the European Court of Human Rights regarding the judgment of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Kovačević v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, app. no. 43651/22 of June 25, 2025.

The information contains a summary of the judgment rendered by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case Kovačević v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was published on October 1, 2025, on the website of the European Court of Human Rights.

The judgment did not impose any individual or general measures obligating the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina to execute the judgment.

This judgment has been published on the official website of the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH – Office of the Agent, and will also be published in the Official Gazette of BiH.

Appointment of Director of the Official Gazette

The Council of Ministers of BiH gave its consent to the Decision on the appointment of Dragan Prusina as Director of Public Enterprise NIO Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for a four-year term.