If the new Agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on border crossings is signed on Monday, there is a possibility that from Tuesday, June 9, no border crossing will be in operation in the north of BiH in the area of Gradiška, the Indirect Taxation Administration (ITA) of BiH warned today.
In the announcement of the ITA, it is stated that in this way, there will not be any border crossing for the trade of goods that require full inspection control (so-called BIP) in the entire north and northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Directorate for Indirect Taxation was verbally informed that the Agreement on border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be signed on Monday, which according to announcements should be signed by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković.
The ITA believes that before the start of the application of the new Agreement, the necessary organizational and administrative prerequisites for its smooth application must be created. Otherwise, there could be serious problems in the functioning of border traffic in the area of Gradiška, with significant consequences for the economy, carriers and citizens.
Namely, if the new Agreement enters into force within the announced deadlines, there is a possibility that from Tuesday, June 9, no border crossing for the international transport of goods and passengers will be in operation in the area of Gradiška.
The existing Gradiška border crossing cannot continue to operate due to the further rehabilitation of the bridge over the Sava River, due to the damage to which the international traffic of passengers and goods has been suspended.
At the same time, the new Gradiška Novi Most border crossing will not be able to function in accordance with the provisions of the new Agreement, because the current ITA Internal Organization Rulebook has not yet systematized the Gradiška Novi Most Customs Office organizational unit.
In order to ensure the continuity of work after the suspension of traffic over the existing Satrog bridge, the ITA previously issued a Decision on the temporary relocation of the Customs Department from the Gradiška Border Crossing to the location of the new bridge in Gradiška. Based on the aforementioned decision, the Gradiška Customs Office was temporarily moved to a new location in Gradiška Novi Most for a period of three months from May 19.
However, the ITA warns that the start of the application of the new Agreement implies the existence of a new organizational unit of the ITA at the location of the new border crossing in Gradiška. This is possible only through amendments to the Rulebook on the internal organization of the ITA, which would establish the Gradiška Novi Most Customs Department, about which the Administration informed the public and all relevant institutions several times in the previous period. The aforementioned amendments to the Rulebook should be adopted by the Management Board of the Indirect Taxation Administration.
Due to all of the aforementioned, there is a possibility that no border crossing will be in operation in the area of Gradiška on the first day after the signing of the previously mentioned international agreement.
In the statement of the Directorate for Indirect Taxation, it is emphasized that this situation would have direct and serious consequences for the economy, transporters and citizens, who would not be able to use any border crossing in Gradiška. The ITA has already informed the business community about the possible consequences of this development through the chambers of commerce, so that business entities would be informed in a timely manner about potential difficulties in the international trade of goods.
The ITA expects all competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue to act in accordance with the current Agreement on border crossings between these two countries until all necessary conditions are created for the full implementation of the new Agreement on border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is stated that it is necessary to ensure the continuity of the functioning of border traffic until the completion of the rehabilitation of the damaged bridge in Gradiška and the adoption of the Amendments to the Rulebook on the Internal Organization of the ITA, which would establish the Gradiška New Bridge Customs Office.
The ITA expresses the expectation that all competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia are aware of the serious consequences that could occur if the new Agreement is signed on Monday, and its application begins on the first following working day, without first fulfilling all organizational and administrative assumptions for its smooth application.
Such a scenario could lead to enormous difficulties in international traffic of goods and passengers, with direct consequences for the economy, carriers and citizens on both sides of the border, the ITA announced.
