FBiH Government: Public Calls Worth 2.7 Million KM Soon

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Three decisions on spending programs totaling 2.7 million KM from this year's Budget of the Federation of BiH, approved for the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning, will be published this week in the "Official Gazette of the Federation of BiH", followed by the publication of public calls.

The funds will be allocated for programs and projects in accordance with general and specific criteria.

For the remediation of damage caused by floods and landslides, and for the thermal insulation of buildings with the aim of energy savings, 1.3 million KM each are planned, while 100,000 KM has been allocated for the protection of national monuments.

"This allocation of funds is a continuation of activities from previous years. The Federal Ministry of Physical Planning is satisfied with the results so far, and every year we have an increasing number of applicants for public calls. We do everything transparently and publicly, which is also monitored by regular reports on the use of funds," emphasized Federal Minister of Physical Planning Josip Martić, announced the Public Relations Office of the FBiH Government.

In the last five years, the FBiH Government and the competent ministry have allocated a total of 11,839,000 KM for these purposes.

Specifically, for projects and programs of remediation of damage from landslides and floods 6,350,000 KM, protection of national monuments 604,000 KM, and 4,885,000 KM for thermal insulation of buildings.

For the remediation of damage caused by floods and landslides, 1.1 million will be distributed through eleven selected programs/projects in individual amounts of 100,000 KM, while 200,000 KM will be intervention funds at the disposal of the Federal Minister of Physical Planning, based on submitted requests with elaborated programs/projects and financial plans, in accordance with the stated purpose of the programs/projects and the criteria of urgency, unpredictability, and specificity of the programs/projects.

Intervention funds will be allocated upon requests from cantonal and local communities, which the competent services or expert commissions will submit for a final decision to the Federal Minister of Physical Planning.

"Respecting the large number of requests from local communities for financing projects for the remediation of damage caused by floods and landslides, the implementation of projects financed by this decision will increase the resilience of local communities in the Federation of BiH by reducing the risk of landslides, which contributes to the safety of the population and infrastructure," explain from the competent ministry.

Let us recall that the floods in May 2014 activated more than 3,000 landslides, causing damage to more than 2,000 residential units. Those interested in funds from this decision, in addition to general criteria, will also have to meet specific criteria, including the number and purpose of endangered buildings and infrastructure, the project's contribution to greater safety of the population, residential buildings, and infrastructure...

Four projects for the protection of national monuments selected through a public call will be financed with 20,000 KM each, and the same amount is planned for intervention funds.

One of the general conditions for applying to this public announcement is that it concerns a national monument that has been declared a national monument of BiH by the Decision of the Commission for the Protection of National Monuments of BiH, or that it is on the Provisional List of National Monuments. Specific criteria, among other things, give priority to national monuments with a higher percentage of damage, 50 percent or more, as well as those with a higher percentage of completed works.

When it comes to the allocation of 1.3 million KM for the thermal insulation of buildings, the FBiH Government has given consent to the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning to pool 50,000 KM with funds from Caritas Switzerland for the implementation of the project "Educating students and teachers on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources and environmental protection, and installation of systems using RES in school facilities in FBiH".

Thus, a public call will be announced for 22 projects worth 50,000 KM each, and the remaining 150,000 KM represents intervention funds.

The subject of this public call will be programs/projects related to public buildings/facilities, and the general criteria, among other things, also prescribe the regular fulfillment of obligations for paying taxes and contributions.

All beneficiaries will, within 15 days of the completion of the program/project, submit statements on the intended use of funds, and if they do not spend all the approved funds this year, they are obliged to submit a report on the use of part of the funds and a copy of the bank statement confirming that the remaining funds have not been spent, by June 30 of the following year.

Supervision, evaluation of effects, and verification of programmatic spending of funds will be carried out by an expert commission of the Federal Ministry of Physical Planning, which submits a report on the funds spent to the Federal Ministry of Finance and the FBiH Government.