The Government of Republic of Srpska held its 149th session in Banja Luka today at which it passed a Decision with regard to establishing of "Trebinje Free Zone".

Acting in accordance with the Law on Free Zones of Republic of Srpska and in accordance with the provisions of the Rulebook on Criteria for Assessing the Economic Justification of Establishing a Free Zone, the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship confirmed economic justification for establishing "Trebinje Free Zone".

Namely, the planned scope of investments in the first three years would amount to BAM 7,900,000 which exceeds the amount which is required by the Rulebook, i.e. 3,000,000. The employment plan envisages that at least 240 workers would be employed in the first three years, while the Rulebook stipulates the obligation to employ at least 100 workers in the first two years of its work, so this criterion has also been met.

The establishment of a free zone will have a positive impact on the development of the city of Trebinje and the surrounding municipalities, most of which are undeveloped (Nevesinje, Gacko, Bileća, Ljubinje, Berkovići).

Furthermore, more than half of the goods produced in the free zone will be intended for export and that would significantly exceed 50% of the total value of goods produced over a period of 12 months which is another criterion that had been met.

The Government passed the Decision to amend the Decision on the Guarantee Program of Economic Support for Mitigating the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic which shall extend the implementation period of the Republic of Srpska Guarantee Program until December 31, 2022.

These amendments increased the maximum amount of loans for medium-size enterprises from 400,000 to 500,000 BAM and determined that the largest amount of loans for other businesses is 500,000 BAM.

The possibility of using a grace period of up to 12 months instead of the obligatory use of a grace period was introduced, as well as the possibility for other economic entities to be beneficiaries of the Guarantee Program.

The amendments will enable financial organizations to approve more loans to business enterprises provided that the total amount of approved loans does not exceed the maximum amount of loans determined by the type of businesses.

The Government of the Republic of Srpska accepted the Information regarding the participation of the joint ventures from Republic of Srpska in the activities of the European Entrepreneurship Network in the period 2022-2027 within the EU Single Market Program. The Government has agreed that the Consortium of the European Entrepreneurship Network of the Republic of Srpska will take part in the work of the European Entrepreneurship Network which activities are financed from the "EU Single Market" Program. The European Entrepreneurship Network is the largest business support network in the world, created by the European Commission. More than 600 organizations from 60 countries operate in the activities of the Network. The Consortium from Republic of Srpska consists of the Development Agency of Republic of Srpska, the Chamber of Commerce of Republic of Srpska, the University of Banja Luka, the University of East Sarajevo and the Innovation Center of Banja Luka.

The Government of the Republic of Srpska adopted the Information on the need to construct the building of the Police Administration of East Sarajevo. The Ministry of Finance is in charge of providing funds in the amount of 7,540,366 BAM in 2022 for construction of facilities for the needs of the Police Administration of East Sarajevo.

At today's session, the Government of the Republika Srpska passed a Decision stating that the construction of social and infrastructural facilities in the center of the town of Stanari was of common interest and refer to the municipal administrative center, center for social work, library, common boiler room and roads that connect these facilities. It is therefore justified to carry out complete expropriation of the real estate indicated in this decision which would ensure more rational functioning of municipal administration and better services for the citizens of the municipality of Stanari in exercising their rights and interests in all areas within the local self-government unit, especially in social and health care.

At today's session, the Government of the Republic of Srpska passed the Decision on issuance of consent to the Proposal of the 2022 Financial Plan - Budget of the Public Institution of the Solidarity Fund for Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases, Conditions and Injuries of Children Abroad for 2022. In the Financial Plan - Budget of the Public Institution Solidarity Fund, the   revenues with receipts and expenditures are planned in the amount of BAM 9,743,600 what is 76,000 BAM more in relation to the Financial Plan - Budget of the Public Institution Solidarity Fund in 2021.

The Government adopted the Information on the completion of the project "Socialization of the children of the Republic of Srpska” in 2021 and adopted the Information on plan to continue it in the 2022-2024 period.

This is the only project in the Republic of Srpska that the Public Fund for Child’s Protection of the Republic of Srpska has been implementing for 19 years. So far, more than 34,000 people have participated in the Project, 81.7% were children from vulnerable social categories and 18.3% of adults (educators, professional staff, parents-companions of children with disabilities). The project has provided that children from the Republic of Srpska whose upbringing has been hampered by unfavorable family, social or material conditions, health and development problems spent together with talented children and prominent athletes, winners of competitions ten days in an inclusive manner at the Youth Hostel "Uzice" in Becici on the Montenegrin coast.

The budget of the Public Fund for Child’s Protection for 2021 for the implementation of the project "Socialization of children of Republic of Srpska" is planned in the total amount of 1,110,000.00 BAM. A total of 923,878.00 or 83.2% of the planned funds for implementation of this Project in 2021 has been spent.

The Government of the Republic of Srpska has given its consent to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republic of Srpska to the Plan for spending funds for the period January 1 through November 30, 2021 at the position of Financing projects and programs in accordance with the Law on Games of Chance in the amount of BAM 1,302,730.74 out of a total of 2,033,400 BAM, that much is planned for this purpose in this position. The available funds would be allocated to a total of 48 unions and associations of persons with disabilities as well as social protection institutions for the needs of the implementation of projects and programs submitted through a public competition.

The Government of the Republic of Srpska has adopted an Action Plan for the Advancement of the Position of Women in Rural Areas in Republic of Srpska for the period 2022-2024.

The Gender Center is in charge of coordinating the implementation of this Action Plan, and the ministries responsible for programs and measures are in charge of the implementation of programs and measures within their institutional competencies, in cooperation with the Gender Center. The Gender Center and the relevant ministries continue their joint work on the development, implementation and monitoring of measures that will be focused on improving the position of women in rural areas in the coming medium term. This approach is planned to implement measures and activities specifically aimed at the empowerment of rural women at the same time, complementary and coordinated with measures and activities aimed at gender equality in local communities.

The Government adopted the Action Plan on preparation and implementation of measures for protection and rescue from forest and other fires in the open space in the Republic of Srpska in 2022. The Action Plan is based on the analysis of collected data, submitted reports on the implementation of tasks over the past years, inspection reports, analysis of the current situation, conclusions from coordination meetings, evaluation of past experiences and opinions and suggestions of relevant stakeholders. Adoption and implementation of this plan will improve and ensure more comprehensive engagement of all relevant entities and achieve a higher level of preparedness for protection and rescue of people, material goods and environment from forest and other fires in the open air with the aim of achieving measurable effects through evident reduction of natural resources. and the richness of our spaces under forest and other vegetation.

The Government of the Republic of Srpska has adopted the Flood Defense Plan in 2022. The plan is the basic document for coordination and implementation of additional or special annual tasks and activities of republic bodies, cities, municipalities, companies, other legal entities and citizens' associations that carry out activities of importance for flood protection and rescue. The adoption and implementation of this plan will improve and ensure more comprehensive engagement of all relevant entities and achieve a higher level of preparedness for the protection and rescue of people and material goods from floods. The Republic Administration of Civil Protection is responsible for coordination, harmonization, monitoring and directing of all activities related to the implementation of this Plan.

The Government of the Republic of Srpska has given its consent to the Ministry of Labor and Veterans' Disability Protection to pay contributions for pension and disability insurance for employees of the company "UNIS - Pipe Factory" JSC. Derventa "in bankruptcy" that meet the conditions for retirement with that payment. Payment of contributions for pension and disability insurance will be made through individual payment of contributions for six workers, according to the decisions of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of Republic of Srpska in total amount of BAM 85,051.79.

At today's session, the Government of the Republika Srpska accepted the Information on resolving the status of the Philharmonic Orchestra within the National Theater of the Republic of Srpska as a new artistic organizational unit.

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Finance are in charge of providing BAM 450,000.00 in the budget for 2022 for the work and functioning of the Philharmonic.

The Government took note of the Information on participation in the EU program "Creative Europe" for the period 2021-2027. The EU's "Creative Europe" program is intended for the development of the European cultural and creative sector.

The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of European Integration and International Cooperation are in charge of coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the EU Creative Europe 2021-2027 program, in accordance with the coordination mechanism and taking into account the constitutional competencies in the field of culture.