At its session in Mostar, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the budget of state institutions, which amounts to about one billion and 355 million BAM.
The session is being held in Mostar for the first time, and the draft document of the framework budget of the institutions of BiH for the period 2024 – 2026 was adopted, as well as the draft law on the budget of the institutions of BiH and international obligations of BiH for the year 2024.
Adopted documents require approval before both houses of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly.
Corrections in the budget refer to an increase in the budget of the Ministry of Defense of BiH by 1,750,000 BAM compared to the originally planned funds, and an increase in the budget of the Presidency of BiH by 500,000 BAM.
At the same time, the budget of the BiH Ministry of Security was reduced by 950,000 KM compared to the originally planned funds, the Veterinary Office by 500,000 KM and the Institute for the Execution of Sanctions, Countermeasures and Other Measures by 800,000 BAM.
The total revenues, receipts and financing of the institutions of BiH within the budget for 2024 amount to 1,355,400,000 BAM, which is an increase of 40 million BAM compared to the budget of the institutions of BiH for 2023.
Revenues from indirect taxes are planned in the amount of 1,020,500,000 BAM and are at the same level as the previous year, when they were increased by about 155 million BAM compared to the budget for 2022. Among the other sources of financing are the non-tax revenues of BiH institutions in the amount of 248,049,000 BAM, which is an increase of about 95.9 million BAM compared to the previous year.
The total expenditures of BiH institutions amount to 1,355,400,000 BAM and are higher by 3% compared to the previous year, while servicing the external debt of BiH amounts to 1,430,733,053 BAM. Thus, the total expenditures of BiH institutions and the servicing of BiH’s external debt in the budget for 2024 amount to 2,786,133,053 BAM, which is an increase of 224,766,691 BAM or 9% compared to 2023.
The draft budget prioritizes the continuation of reforms and the fulfillment of the conditions for the European Partnership and the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Also, among the priorities, the BiH Ministry of Defense increased by 1,750,000 BAM compared to the originally planned funds. These funds will enable the smooth operation of this ministry and its participation with other ministries and institutions of the BiH Council of Ministers in programs and activities resulting from the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program and other forms of cooperation with NATO.
At the same time, among the priorities are planned budget funds for the implementation of multi-year projects of budget beneficiaries, BHRT writes.