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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers, the country’s state-level executive government, voted on Thursday to adopt basic outlines for conducting negotiations to build eastern and southern gas pipeline interconnections with Serbia and Croatia.
The Council of Ministers backed the decision unanimously after public controversy in recent weeks over the pipeline plans.
The building of a new gas pipeline from Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is expected to be financed by Russian energy giant Gazprom, was a test for the state authorities in terms of addressing Russian influence, as well as in the country’s relations with the European Union and its hopes of gaining membership of the bloc.
The Council of Ministers did not however make a decision on petroleum fuel import quality controls at its Thursday session.
Detektor recently investigated the petroleum fuel import controls, which involve the authentication by ‘marking’ of fuel to avoid theft, smuggling or adulteration.
If Bosnia and Herzegovina introduced such a marking process, it would lead to Russia removing its objections to the country joining the World Trade Organisation.
Detektor found that the introduction of such import controls, a move supported by Russia, could result in more expensive fuel. The controls are modelled on a similar marking process in Serbia, where they were introduced with the help of Gazprom.
State-level Defence Minister Zukan Helez confirmed that the decision was withdrawn from the agenda following the investigation by Detektor. He said that the issues raised in the investigation were discussed during the Council of Ministers’ session.
“And I can tell you that you were right and you contributed to the postponement and to the establishment of expert teams to resolve that and, in fact, to say what should be eliminated, what is detrimental to the state and what is good, and to change whatever is problematic,” Helez said.
The state-level Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Stasa Kosarac, whose ministry was proposed the decision to adopt the import controls, said after the session that he had argued that they would protect consumers, but acknowledged there were different opinions about the marking process.
Kosarac insisted that the marking of fuel should be adopted, but said the decision was withdrawn from the Council of Ministers’ agenda due to conflicting opinions.
“There are thoughts on how to shape the decision on marking and for that reason there were two concepts. I will say that because there are two viewpoints, we made a decision to conduct consultations within the next ten days both internally and with representatives of the European Energy Community,” Kosarac said.
He voiced confidence that the best possible solution will be reached and that Bosnia and Herzegovina will complete its negotiations with Russia on its entry into the World Trade Organisation.
He added that in July, he is planning to visit Russia, where he will promote bilateral relations in conjunction with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry into the World Trade Organisation. He said he is currently having talks with representatives of the Russian embassy in Sarajevo to ensure a meeting will be held.
After the session, Kosarac said that the new eastern interconnection to Serbia was important for the Republika Srpska entity and all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He also stressed the importance of the southern interconnection with Croatia, and said that the Federation entity government should now take steps to adopt the laws required for the implementation of that project. He added that Republika Srpska was one step ahead in that process given that it has already adopted the required legislation.
“Besides expressing support for the new eastern interconnection, during the today’s session of the Council of Ministers, we appointed a commission for negotiations with Republika Serbia,” Kosarac said.
“I believe that according to the procedure provided for in the law, the commission for negotiations will embark on the process of determining what should be in the contract as soon as possible and that we will ultimately sign a very important agreement through the implementation of positive regulations in this country,” he added.
Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic said that he would like an ideal solution, but the current proposals couold be seen as the opposite of ideal.
“Some people have not understood the fact that these are two important projects for reducing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s dependency on any energy lobby. I am ready for any possible pipeline to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Konakovic said.
“I guarantee you that houses in the Federation will also be heated through the eastern interconnection. People, why would we be against that?” he asked.
Detektor previously reported that the authorities in Republika Srpska have insisted on the building of the new eastern interconnection, which will link up with a pipeline in Serbia near Bijeljina and is expected to be financed by Gazprom, but the European Union, which Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join, might not look favourably on the plan.
The Council of Ministers on Thursday also adopted a draft Law on Amendments to the Law on High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, which should resolve issues such as HJPC members’ conflict of interests and reports on assets owned by holders of judicial office. The amendments will make it possible to scrutinise judicial officials and to establish a Unit for Integrity within the HJPC’s secretariat, which will be in charge of carrying out check-ups, amongst other things.
The unit was established in the second half of 2020, but it has not yet become operational. The amendments to the law were needed before it can start working. Previous amendments were adopted by the Council of Ministers in mid-July 2021, but they didn’t get through parliament, as Detektor reported.
The Council of Ministers on Thursday also unanimously adopted a Draft Law on Foreign Affairs and a Law on Conclusion and Implementation of International Contracts, as well as a Proposal for a Decision on Amendments to the Decision on a Helicopter Acquisition Project for the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the US.
