The Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina approved the budget of the Federation of BiH for this year in the amount of almost 7.5 billion BAM to the proposer, the Federal Government. First, the House of Representatives gave its consent yesterday, and today the House of Peoples gave its consent in an extraordinary session. Support from both houses means the budget can come into effect upon publication.
Along with the budget, both chambers also approved the accompanying act, the Law on the Execution of the Budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2024.
They also approved this year’s financial plans of the Institute for Health Insurance and Reinsurance and the Employment Institute, as well as the estimates of the plans of the mentioned other federal institute for 2025 and 2026.
Federal Minister of Finance Toni Kraljević, recalling that this year’s total budget amount is 7,474,800,209 BAM, also states that this is the largest budget ever in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, half a billion BAM higher than last year.
“For the first time, funds have been allocated for newborns in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a new transfer from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in the total amount of 16 million BAM, which refers to a one-time financial aid for each newborn child. We hope that in the coming years this figure to have a growing trend,” said Kraljević.
In the item provided for the Federal Institute of Health Insurance and Reinsurance, ten million BAM is intended to help childless couples for biomedically assisted fertilization procedures.
According to the minister, more money has been earmarked for the adjustment of pensions in accordance with legal regulations.
“Compensations for veteran categories, on various grounds, were increased by 9.6 million BAM, as well as for non-war disabled, civilian victims of war, for projects intended for these categories, so that the total increase in allocations for these categories is 57.7 million BAM”, Kraljević pointed out.
The credit line through Razvojna banka was increased by five million BAM for youth housing and now totals 20 million BAM.
In the field of entrepreneurship, the minister notes that there are two laws in the parliamentary procedure – on entrepreneurial infrastructure and on encouraging the development of small businesses. Those two items were significantly increased, by 18.4 million BAM, which will significantly increase the competitiveness of trades in FBiH and small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Capital transfers to municipalities, cities and local communities have been increased by 50 million BAM. This is also an opportunity to secure additional sources of financing for a significant part of the infrastructure projects of local self-government units. For the construction of sports infrastructure, we have planned 18 million BAM and all units local self-governments will have individual rights to apply for these funds when the public call is announced,” said Kraljević.
As he stated, 50 million BAM is planned for the Solidarity Fund. This is the largest amount for this fund so far, increased by 16.5 million BAM compared to last year’s allocation.
Transfers to support agriculture were increased by 11 million BAM compared to 2023.
The total transfers of the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry are higher by 13.2 million BAM, as well as the current transfers of the Federal Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts by 18.4 million BAM, explained Minister Kraljević.
In addition to the extraordinary session, the House of Peoples also held a regular session today at which the Law on the Special Register of Persons Convicted of Criminal Offenses against Sexual Freedom and Morality towards Children and Minors in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted.
Today’s work of the House of Peoples is over, and the date of the next session will be known later, Fena news agency writes.
