SDA-HDZ Government Told: Do Not Remove Us, MPs, We Are in Constant Session!

The focus of the work of the Government of the Federation of BiH is on issues related to economic progress. In doing so, the Government is fully committed to protecting the interests of the Federation of BiH, its property and citizens. Strengthening the economy and competitiveness is the key to sustainable and stable growth throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to ensure a better standard of living and prosperity for citizens. On the other hand, the model of stable economic growth and strengthening competitiveness will have to ensure social equality and solidarity of all segments of the population.

This is, among other things, stated in the text of the Statement of the Government of the FBiH adopted today regarding the Proposal of 22 delegates in the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the FBiH to vote no confidence in the Federal Government, reports the Patria news agency.

The strategic commitments on which the work of the Government of the FBiH will be based during the mandate period are integrated growth, smart growth, sustainable growth, inclusive growth and smart governance.

However, everyday political topics, the Statement adds, do not leave enough room for action in the aforementioned directions. Consequently, and without disputing the democratic right of delegates to raise the issue of confidence in the Government, as well as to offer reasoned criticism of its work, at this moment a justified suspicion arises regarding the motive for such moves, given that they achieve the effect of obstructing the Government's work and impose on it the obligation to deal with itself, instead of with necessary reforms.

From 31 March to 31 July 2015, the Government held a total of ten emergency and 17 regular sessions. At the emergency sessions, a total of 16 agenda items were considered, and at the regular sessions, 535 agenda items were considered.

Forty-five draft/proposed laws were submitted to the parliamentary procedure (including the FBiH Budget for 2015 and the financial plans of extra-budgetary funds), of which 19 draft/proposed laws were from the mandate of the previous Government (six proposals and 13 draft laws), for which the Government in the new convocation assessed that the adoption procedure should continue, while 24 draft/proposed laws were established and submitted to the parliamentary procedure in the period from 31 March to 31 July 2015.

A Proposal for an authentic interpretation of Article 25 of the Law on Petroleum Derivatives in the FBiH was also submitted to the Parliament. In addition, by an act of the Government, it was confirmed that the adoption procedure for 14 proposals for decisions on credit indebtedness would continue, and one decision on granting consent was submitted. By an act of the Government, the Program for Restructuring the Electricity Sector in the FBiH from the mandate of the previous Government was retained in the parliamentary procedure.

The Government also submitted to the parliamentary procedure the Mid-term Strategy for the Development of the Agricultural Sector in the FBiH for the period 2015-2019, as well as the Reform Agenda for BiH for the period 2015-2018. Also, the Government regularly reports to the Parliament on the indebtedness of the Federation of BiH based on the issuance of treasury bills, i.e., the issuance of bonds (a total of nine reports on indebtedness have been submitted). In accordance with legal obligations, the Government submitted to the Parliament the Report on the approval of allocations from the Current Reserve of the FBiH Budget for 2015, for the period January - June 2015, as well as four reports on the work of independent federal institutions, and the Report on the state of agriculture in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Green Report) for 2014.

At the proposal of the Government, the Parliament of the FBiH adopted the FBiH Budget for 2015 and the Law on Budget Execution, several laws, including the Labor Law, and numerous decisions on granting consent to the financial plans of federal institutions, as well as others in the field of finance.

Regarding the specific reasons for which a vote of confidence is being sought, the Statement notes that the composition of the Government of the FBiH meets the criteria established in Article IV.B.2.4 (1) of the Constitution of the FBiH, which prescribes the minimum representation in the Government of the FBiH of ministers from among the constituent peoples, as well as from among the Others. Also, the voting on laws and other regulations submitted to the parliamentary procedure does not confirm the thesis that the Federal Government does not have the support of the Parliament of the FBiH.

The presence of all members or representatives of the Government is ensured during the part of parliamentary sessions when the agenda is determined and parliamentary/delegate questions are asked, i.e., answers to those questions are given, and when agenda items prepared by certain ministries are considered. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers attend the sessions in their entirety for the most part. In the case of justified absence of certain ministers, the presence of a Government representative and a representative of the federal ministry from among the highest-ranking civil servants is always ensured at the sessions.

The Statement further states that the Government of the Federation of BiH, in the past four months of its mandate, has not shown a "reckless" attitude towards pensioners by any move, nor has it further undermined the pension and disability insurance system through any activities. Unfortunately, the facts unequivocally show that the undermining of the PIO/MIO system occurred in the period 2011-2014.

Nor does the assertion about the "constant ignorant attitude" of the Government towards the Parliament of the FBiH hold, because the Government of the FBiH, in all matters within its competence, acts in accordance with the Constitution of the FBiH, federal laws and other regulations, as well as the conclusions of the Parliament of the FBiH.

Regarding the so-called "hiding" of the text of the Reform Agenda from the public, the Government of the FBiH emphasizes that, in accordance with its constitutional position, together with representatives of the international community and other levels of government, it took an active part in the creation of this document, which is common for the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the Government gave its consent to this document at its 17th session, the Prime Minister of the FBiH submitted the document to the Parliament of the FBiH for information. In addition, the document was published on the website of the Government of the Federation of BiH and submitted to all media.

The Reform Agenda is a response to the call of the Council for Foreign Affairs, from December 2014, which requested the adoption of an agenda for reforms, in accordance with the EU acquis. Furthermore, the Agenda is closely aligned with the goals of the European Union's new approach and is in line with the Economic Reform Program as a fundamental element for stimulating comprehensive structural reforms aimed at maintaining macroeconomic stability and encouraging growth and competitiveness.

Given all that is stated in the text of the Statement adopted today, the houses of the Parliament of the FBiH have been proposed to adopt conclusions rejecting the Proposal for a vote of no confidence in the Government of the Federation of BiH, the Government's announcement states.