The delegates of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted at today’s session the amendments to the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first reading. The delegates will express their opinion on this legal proposal, in the second reading, at the session that will be held on September 6.
This is a law that needs to be passed because it is one of the 14 priorities that the European Commission put before Bosnia and Herzegovina in response to the request for membership in the European Union.
The Law on VSTS was last amended in 2008, and since then it has been shown that it is necessary to make changes to a number of provisions that have become obsolete. Also, the legislative framework is incomplete and does not sufficiently guarantee the independence, responsibility and efficiency of the judiciary.
The House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted in the second reading the Law on Freedom of Access to Information at the Institutional Level of BiH, as well as the Law on Amendments to the Law on the Ombudsman for Human Rights of BiH.
BiH Minister of Justice Davor Bunoza, in his explanation of the Law on Freedom of Access to Information, pointed out that it was necessary to fulfill 11 recommendations sent by the European Commission, in order for this law to be harmonized with European standards.
The adopted law on amendments to the Law on the Ombudsman for Human Rights of BiH strengthens the capacities of this institution, as well as the financial independence of the Institution of the Ombudsman, emphasizing its role in strengthening cooperation and dialogue with the non-governmental sector and the academic community in BiH.
With the adoption of these laws, another recommendation of the European Commission has been fulfilled.
Delegates adopted today, following an urgent procedure, amendments to the Law on Foreigners who want to facilitate the stay of digital nomads in BiH, as well as the Law on the Organization of the Wine Market in BiH, which establishes the principles of the organization of this market and specifies the provisions on the production of grapes and wine.
The intention of the BiH Council of Ministers, which is the proposer of the law on foreigners, is to further extend their stay in BiH.
Amendments to the law also refer to the areas of issuing visas, permanent residence, temporary residence of foreigners in BiH based on family reunification, education, scientific research, participation in an exchange program or educational project, professional practice, volunteering, employment of highly qualified workers, and work on the basis of a “blue card”, as well as for humanitarian reasons.
A significant part of the Law on the Organization of the Wine Market in Bosnia and Herzegovina refers to the systematic regulation of areas related to designations of origin and geographical origin, as well as to labeling, presentation and advertising of winemaking products, as well as to placing these products on the market, their supervision and control, including provisions on organic wines, flavored wine products and fruit wines.
The new law, along with which a correction of a technical nature was also adopted at the proposal of the Club of SNSD deputies, enables the establishment of a vineyard-wine registry, which represents the basis for the revival and further development of this sector in BiH.
It is defined that within 12 months from the entry into force of the Law, appropriate regulations in this area will be adopted, which leaves enough time so that domestic producers are not prevented from exporting after November 2024, which the European Commission has set as the deadline for harmonization legislation in BiH in the field of wine and viticulture with EU standards.
At today’s session, the delegates supported the amendments to the Law on the Basics of Traffic Safety on Roads in BiH, as well as the amendments to the Law on Work in the Institutions of BiH, both in the first reading.
The report on the work of the Council of Ministers for 2021 and 2022 as well as the Annual Consolidated Internal Audit Report for 2022 were supported at the session.
The consolidated report on the system of financial management and control in the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the year 2022, as well as the Report on the performance audit: Monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the performance audit “Electronic business in the institutions of BiH”, received support.
The delegates also supported the Report on the work of the Council of National Minorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Report on the Protection of Personal Data, as well as the Report on the Work of the Commission for Decisions on Conflict of Interest for 2022.
Consent was also given for the ratification of several international agreements and contracts, after which today’s session of the House of Peoples of the PSBiH ended, Fena and Srna news agencies report.
