The Government of the Republic of Srpska today, at its 64th Session in Banja Luka, adopted the Draft Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of Republic of Srpska 2012-2016, and the relevant Action Plan.
The task of the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of Republic of Srpska 2012-2016 is to provide an action framework, with proposed measures to improve scientific and technological system of the Republic of Srpska, with the aim of overall development, which will gradually and permanently decrease the number of weak points and eliminate threats on one hand, and to develop advantages and utilize possibilities on the other hand.
The vision of the new scientific-research-development system of the Republic of Srpska, which has been proposed in this Strategy, is based on:
- Social and political consensus on the necessity of building society and knowledge-based economy;
- Recognition of science and technological development as a strategic value for the Republic;
- The system of higher education that creates skilled, creative and motivated individuals who acts as a generator of new scientific knowledge;
- Appropriate and continuing financial investment in development of scientific-research and research-development system;
- Promotion of innovation that would be competitive in regional and European scale;
- Responsibility of scientists and scientific research organizations for the overall socio-economic development and their active participation in making important decisions;
- Legal framework and standards of conduct in accordance with EU development plans and requirements.
The aim of the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of Republic of Srpska 2012-2016 is the building of a R&D system which will have a long-term stimulating effect on all scientific and research resources- human, organizational and material, in the creation and application of new knowledge and technological solutions to ensure sustainable development, welfare, social and economic stability and contemporary civilization development of the Republic of Srpska.
The Government of the Republic of Srpska today confirmed Policy Proposal on borrowing of the Republic of Srpska and submitted it for consideration to the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska.
The Policy should, among the other things, estimate the following: the borrowing needs at the Republic of Srpska level, including extra-budgetary funds, public companies which guarantor is the Republic of Srpska, or the local community; the possibility of future borrowing of the Republic of Srpska, as well as borrowing priorities.
The Borrowing Policy will be the basis for future borrowing planning. According to the foregoing, each decision on borrowing will be verified on whether is in accordance with this Policy, what will be revised by the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska on the governmental proposal.
The primary goal of borrowing and debt management of the Republic of Srpska is to provide funds needed for capital projects and to finance the budget, with the financing costs which are in the medium or long term minimal, and with an acceptable risk level.
The main debt priorities are as follows:
1. Stimulation of small and medium enterprises development;
2. Borrowing of loan end-users who are creditworthy (“Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske” (Power Utility Company RS), Municipalities, ''Autoputevi Republike Srpske'' (Highways RS) PC - indirect borrowing of the Republic of Srpska in the name and on behalf of end users, or with guarantees of the Republic of Srpska;
3. Projects in the field of infrastructure;
4. Housing for families of fallen soldiers, war veterans, refugees and displaced persons;
5. Re-financing of existing debt;
6. Financing projects in the field of Education and Culture;
7. Financing the budget deficit;
8. Financing projects in the field of Health Care.
These priorities are defined, above all, bearing in mind the need for accelerated economic development of the Republic of Srpska, ensuring its fiscal stability and addressing socially disadvantaged groups.
The Government of the Republic of Srpska adopted the Information on Pension and Disability Insurance Situation of the Republic of Srpska and the Information on students enrolled in the first year of the first cycle of the academic 2011/12 at higher education institutions in the RS.
The Government of the Republic of Srpska adopted the Information on awarding scholarships to promising athletes, athletes with disabilities and potential Olympic candidates.
Proposed budget plan for 2012 provides scholarships in the amount of BAM 170 for promising athletes and athletes with disabilities, and the amount of BAM 250 to potential Olympic candidates, annually by grantees. Total funds to be allocated for athletic scholarships in 2012 amounted to BAM 152,400.00.
In 2012, 70 scholarships in total were awarded to promising athletes, athletes with disabilities and potential Olympic candidates, as follows: 50 scholarships to promising athletes, 10 to athletes with disabilities and 10 scholarships to potential Olympic candidates.
The Government of the Republic of Srpska adopted the Information on "Improvement of road safety situation in the Republic of Srpska" Project and the Report of "Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske" MH JSC, Trebinje, on Power System work and planning mode, electricity balance surplus analysis and electricity sales in the period of July 2011- February 2012.
The Government also adopted the Decision on giving approval to the Spa Rehabilitation Project for war invalids and families of fallen soldiers of the Patriotic-Defensive War of the Republic of Srpska in 2012.
Spa Rehabilitation Project in 2012 is aimed to provide medical and physical rehabilitation through Spa treatment to a number of war invalids and families of fallen soldiers, as well as a number of camp prisoners proposed by the RS Camp Prisoners Alliance.
The Ministry of Labor, War Veterans and Disabled Persons’ Protection will contract provision of medical, respectively physical rehabilitation service with the facilities equipped for that purpose, and open a public bid for applications by war invalids and families of fallen soldiers to receive treatments in Spa-health care facilities under the Spa Rehabilitation Project.
The Government of the Republic of Srpska passed the Decision on accepting European Commission Donation from IPA 2010 for co-financing the Second Project for Solid Waste Management.
The funding of European Commission Donation from IPA 2010 in the amount of Euros 2.854.000, 00 is accepted for co-financing Second Project for Solid Waste Management according to the EC IPA Grant Agreement between B&H and the World Bank-International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the role of European Commission Administrator for Trust Fund of EU Pre-Accession Tool.
The funds assigned to the Republic of Srpska amounts to Euros 2.854.000, 00, respectively 54, 89% of Euros 5.199.142, 00 approved to B&H for project financing.
Grants funding is intended for the rehabilitation of old landfill and expansion of existing one in Banja Luka ("DEP-OT" Banja Luka) through the rehabilitation of the landfill, the construction of sanitary waste disposal cells in accordance with Directive 1999/31/EC and the construction of gas collection system.
The objective of the Project is to improve the availability, quality, environmental and financial sustainability of solid waste disposal services in the Banja Luka region, what will improve the health of residents and the environmental protection from waste disposal adverse effects.