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Following the socialist revolution in 1944, the legal system and legislation served the purpose of fortifying the economic framework of socialist society. A number of laws adopted in the first years of socialism put public property and socialist planned economy in the foreground. Private property was rejected and certain laws were passed stipulating the expropriation of private means of production, the collectivization of farm land, and finally, the nationalization of personal property of citizens - housing, and others.
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The municipal privatization Fund is being established pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, par. 2 (3) of the Law on Privatization and Transformation of State and Municipally Owned Property. According to this section, "the remainder (from the total revenues from the privatization of municipal enterprises, entering a separate account to the respective municipal budget, as set forth in Article 6, par. 2 of the same law) amounting to 88 percent shall be set aside in a special Fund under the discretionary authority of the municipal council, and the funds shall be used in order of priority to cover uncollected debts incurred by municipal enterprises, including payment against loans extended for pending construction projects, as well as for investment purposes.
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The economic reforms that were launched in Bulgaria following the democratic changes in late 1989 are meant to carry out the transition from a centrally planned, to market oriented economy. The banking reform is one of the chief preconditions for the organization of a financial system that conforms with market economy principles, which can facilitate the overcoming of the crisis and restoration of macroeconomic stability. The process of institutionalization of the banking system in the country was supposed, within a relatively short period of time, to settle several critical groups of questions. Most notably these were: to lay the foundations of the money and foreign exchange market; to secure stability and trust in the financial institutions; to encourage competition between them. The highlight of the reform of the financial and credit system was the transformation of the Bulgarian National Bank from an instrument of centralized planned management and a banking monopoly, into a central banking institution in a position, through its independent monetary policy, to guarantee the stability of the national currency and the viability of the banking system in Bulgaria.
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The presented report was prepared by the Working Group on Registry Reform at the Center for the Study of Democracy during the period 2001-2003 and reflects the recommendations and suggestions made during its preparation by state institutions, NGOs, representatives of the business and Bulgarian and foreign experts. The main ideas of the report were presented at an international seminar "Modernizing the Commercial Register in Bulgaria", organized on 9 February 2004 by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Economy with the support of the US Agency for International Development.
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In March 2020, the new ”Skilled Immigration Act” for qualified professionals from non-EU countries will come into force in Germany. Polish employers are concerned that better employment conditions in that country will encourage Ukrainian economic migrants to leave Poland. However, only some of them will meet the criteria stipulated in the act. If Poland adopts a new labour law improving the procedures for employing foreigners, there likely will be no mass emigration of Ukrainians to Germany in the coming years.
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The recent decision by the European Commission (EC) prohibiting Siemens from taking over Alstom was perceived by their respective German and French governments as a blow to plans to create a “European champion” in the railway sector. Both states declared that they will strive to change the EU competition rules that prevent similar transactions. According to the traditional approach to competition protection, the implementation of most of the proposals would have negative consequences for the EU economy and indirectly for Polish enterprises and consumers.
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Decyzja Komisji Europejskiej (KE) zakazująca Siemensowi przejęcia Alstomu została odebrana przez rządy Niemiec i Francji jako cios w ich plany utworzenia „europejskiego czempiona” w sektorze kolejowym. Oba państwa zadeklarowały, że będą dążyć do zmiany unijnych reguł konkurencji stojących na przeszkodzie tego typu transakcjom. W świetle tradycyjnego podejścia do ochrony konkurencji realizacja większości zapowiedzi pociągnęłaby za sobą negatywne skutki dla unijnej gospodarki, a pośrednio dla polskich przedsiębiorstw i konsumentów.
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Unia Europejska pracuje nad stworzeniem wykazu pozaunijnych rajów podatkowych. Ma on zapobiegać unikaniu opodatkowania przez korporacje. Może się jednak okazać nieskuteczny w walce z transferem nieopodatkowanych zysków poza UE. Polska, jako państwo tracące nawet do 10 mld euro rocznie na unikaniu płacenia CIT, może dołączyć do grupy państw najaktywniej zabiegających o zacieśnianie współpracy w tej dziedzinie.
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Although the adoption of the Law on Public Procurement for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014 introduced a series of new provisions aimed at improving transparency in the public procurement process, there are still significant limitations in this domain that can have significant negative implications in practice. Among other things, the legal framework has not ensured adequate availability of information on planned public procurement, given that public procurement plans are not published on the public procurement portal. The published procurement plans do not include procedures for lower value contracts, and decisions on these contracts are not published. There is a manifest lack of provisions that would contribute to publishing the contracts signed between the public sector and the suppliers. In addition, there are no guidelines developed for the application of tender evaluation criteria, especially criteria for the economically most favourable tender. It is, therefore, crucial to improve legal regulations to remove the identified shortcomings and ensure a significantly higher level of transparency in public procurement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Transparency is often singled out as one of the key indicators of a just and functional public procurement system, and it refers to the availability of all relevant information that enables stakeholders to become familiar with the rules and procedures applied in the public procurement process. If a public authority fails to ensure a sufficient level of transparency, it is impossible to ascertain whether the public procurement procedure was conducted impartially and in line with the rules. In that context, transparency in the implementation of public procurement contributes to increasing the accountability of public authorities and more efficient control of public spending. Contracting authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are under the obligation to transparently conduct public procurement procedures and ensure fair and equal treatment of all tenderers in order to achieve the best value for public money. These principles are stipulated in the Law on Public Procurement in Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter: LPPBiH) adopted in April 2014 as part of the public procurement system reforms and harmonisation of domestic legislation with European Union acquis. The new, modernised legal framework was established in BiH ten years after the adoption of the first Law on Public Procurement in 2004, which had shown numerous shortcomings in practice, including some to do with transparency. Although the new law introduced better norms for the aspect of transparency in public procurement, shortcomings that may have significant implications in practice are still evident. One of the aims of this analysis is to assess the extent to which the legal framework ensures an adequate level of transparency in public procurement in BiH, and how transparency could be improved. The analysis offers insight into the main obstacles to transparency in public procurement, especially in light of international standards and comparative practices, focusing primarily on existing legal and institutional solutions in this domain. It should be noted that the new Law on Public Procurement of BiH has been in force only since November 2014, and that certain bylaws relevant to transparency have not yet been adopted. That is why at this stage of research, insight into the practice of public procurement is still limited. This report focuses on the obligations of public institutions stipulated under the Law on Public Procurement of BiH to independently publish key information on public procurement that will enable the public procurement procedure and provide public insight into the process for awarding contracts. Access to all public information in the possession of any institution in BiH, including specific information on public procurement, may also be requested in line with the laws on free access to information adopted at the state and entity level, but this aspect of transparency is not the subject of the present analysis. This report takes into account the main conceptual discussions of transparency in public procurement processes. It then gives an overview of international standards in this area, focusing on European Directives for conducting public procurement procedures, and on decisions of the European Court of Justice. It also presents comparative practices in transparent public procurement in European Union countries with innovative approaches to improving the public procurement system, such as Slovakia and Portugal. The legal frameworks and practices of Western Balkan countries that have in the past few years made innovations to their legal and institutional frameworks for public procurement as part of the European Union approximation process are subject to a separate analysis. This primarily pertains to the experiences of Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia. Past reports on these issues, as well as the old and new legislative and institutional framework are also analysed. Finally, interviews were conducted with representatives of key institutions, including the Public Procurement Agency (hereinafter: PPA) and the Procurement Review Body (hereinafter: PRB), as well as with representatives of the business community in BiH.
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Legal protection in public procurement procedures implies a set of legal norms which govern the mechanisms available to participants in these procedures with the objective of protecting their rights and interests. The legal protection framework ensures the realization of several important objectives of public procurement. Competitive and transparent procedures in public procurement assist legal public authorities to get the best value for money when they procure products and services. This results in cost-effective spending of public funds, faster economic growth and greater competitiveness among entrepreneurs. Open and transparent procedures in public procurement influence prevention of discrimination, cronyism and corruption. From the standpoint of the European Union (EU) the objective of public procurement is also to open the market of public procurement for member states, enabling the participation of entrepreneurs in public procurement procedures outside the boundaries of a particular state. Legal protection is very important for the realization of the above objectives of public procurement. Legal protection regulations should ensure equal legal position for all entrepreneurs in public procurement, the efficient and timely implementation of public procurement procedures, and should also enhance legal security in this area. Unregulated or insufficiently regulated legal protection may cause direct damage to the economy as it enables the choosing of bids that are not necessarily the best. The fallout of this includes other negative effects (political, economic, sociological). Efficient legal protection increases the trust of the public in the transparency of procedures, and encourages entrepreneurs to participate in public procurement procedures. Efficient legal protection can also act as a preventive measure against a concrete contracting authority or other contracting authorities, in the sense of ensuring that there is no infringement of public procurement rules. Apart from their prominent position in any legal system, national norms regarding legal protection in the EU member states, candidate status states and accession states are founded in European Law, and as such, they are the result of the harmonization of national legislation with the requirements of European law. In this way the harmonization of legal protection in member states, candidate states and potential candidates is achieved. The request for harmonized procedures in member states derives from an understanding that different procedures in different states have a negative impact on the functioning of a unified European market. The European legislation is important for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) not only as an instrument for the strengthening of the economy, but also in respect of the commitments undertaken earlier to gradually harmonize BiH legislation with that of the EU. One of the areas where BiH legislation is harmonized with European law is the area of public procurement. The subject-matter of this study is legal protection in public procurement procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is implemented as an administrative and administrative-judicial protection, in the manner of critically deliberating the relevant issues of legal protection of participants in public procurement procedures. The present analysis deals with the existing rules that govern legal protection in public procurement procedures having in mind the potential consequences of incomplete or inadequate regulation, which affects the rights and interests of participants in public procurement procedures. Above all, this study is focused on the analysis of rules which govern the basic legal remedy available to participants in the public procurement procedures against the decision of the contracting authority of the aforementioned action or omission of action or the procedure of the contracting authority, followed by an analysis of appeal in an administrative dispute. In this sense, the present study suggests the direction of possible legal intervention which could improve the legal protection rules in public procurement procedures in BiH with regard to the relevant European and comparative law. Accordingly, in addition to a review of legal protection in accordance with the existing de lege lata, this study also includes questions with regard to what this protection should be in view of the requirements of European law (de lege ferenda). The initial assumption in this analysis is that legal protection in any state is regulated independently, but the autonomy of member states (and future member states that have already undertaken some commitments) is restricted by EU rules. As a result, the conclusions in this study inevitably deal with the influence of the relevant European law regarding the provision of effective legal remedies in public procurement procedures by observing the practice of the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg (the European Court), and the regulations that govern the availability of legal remedies in the area of legal protection in some member states that have implemented European law (such as Croatia and Slovenia). The objective of this study is to see what lessons can be drawn from the experience of the aforementioned states and in what manner these lessons can be applied in BiH law with the aim of further improving the legislation of legal protection. Thus an insight is gained about the relationship between legal regulation and practice, and in this respect the inadequacies in the existing legal protection norms in public procurement procedures in BiH can be observed. The presentation of the methodological and analytical framework of this study (Chapter 2) is followed by a summary of the relevant EU legal acts (Chapter 3) and a subsequent analysis of the legal and institutional framework of public procurement in BiH (Chapter 4). In the chapter on legal protection (Chapter 5) procedural rules are analyzed. The results of this analysis are summed up in the Conclusion (Chapter 6). In Chapter 7 there is a list of proposals for possible decisions with regard to the previously recognized problems.
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Legal protection in public procurement procedures implies a set of legal norms that regulate the mechanisms available to participants in public procurement procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) if participants consider that the decision brought by a contracting authority violates their rights and legal interests. An appropriate normative framework also ensures the realization of fundamental objectives of legal protection in public procurement procedures such as inspiring competition and preventing discrimination, cronyism and corruption. On the basis of such a normative framework, provision of goods and services at the best value for money is ensured, as well as cost-effective spending of public funds, faster economic growth and harmonization with the fundamental principles and other standards of European law.
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The public procurement system in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is characterised by numerous weaknesses and shortcomings. In the ten years of application of the BiH Law on Public Procurement, a range of irregularities in public procurement procedures have been identified, including practices of privileging individual bidders through discriminatory criteria and technical specifications in tender documentation, dividing procurement value into smaller amounts to avoid implementing the public procurement procedure for higher amounts, procurements of goods, services or works without a public procurement procedure, use of annexes to existing contracts to increase the value of procurement, and other ways of changing the terms of contracts based on public procurement procedures. Irregularities and abuses in public procurement have, among other things, contributed significantly to the spread of corruption and to hindering the operation of the private sector in BiH. Research has shown that corruption is one of the most significant obstacles to the work of private companies and to overall economic development, not just in BiH, but in countries of the region as well. Reports by international and non-governmental organisations and representatives of the business sector in BiH have for the past few years pointed out failings and irregularities in the public procurement system that undermine the basic principles of fair and active competition, transparency, equal treatment of bidders, and efficient and responsible public spending. This report resulted from the need to identify key problems in public procurement based on surveying a representative sample of the business community with direct experience of public procurement in BiH. The report is based on the findings of research conducted during 2014 with the main aim of mapping the major obstacles faced by companies in BiH entering public procurement procedures in BiH. Representatives of private enterprises of various sizes (micro, small, medium and large enterprises) and from various branches of the economy throughout BiH participated in the study. The study provides insight into the views and perceptions, as well as the reallife experience of business sector representatives in BiH when it comes to various aspects and phases of public procurement. In that context, this is the first survey study in BiH that identifies key problems in public procurement by relying on the views and experiences of business sector representatives that have participated in public procurement procedures. For the purposes of this report, which presents the main obstacles to the participation of enterprises in public procurement, the respondents answered questions about issues such as availability of public procurement invitations for submitting bids, definitions of eligibility criteria and technical specifications, application of appropriate procedures, transparency of outcomes, legal protection, public procurement contract implementation control, perception of the degree of corruption in public procurement, trust in the fairness and justice of public procurement procedures, etc. The examination of practices that hinder efficient market functioning and the identification of areas of heightened risk of corruption were also recognised in strategic documents of BiH authorities as a necessary measure for the development of efficient anti-corruption policies in BiH. The present study naturally fits into this normative and strategic framework. Namely, given that public procurement is particularly vulnerable to corruption, data from this report can prove useful as guidance for decision makers in BiH working to improve the public procurement regulatory framework and practices. The report first presents the main features of the public procurement system and gives details of the research methodology. Research results that reflect the experience of private sector representatives in public procurement in BiH are set out in the fourth chapter and divided among all the phases of the public procurement cycle. The conclusion sums up the key results and indicates further research and analyses necessary in this area.
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A survey conducted by Analitika in 2014 showed that the business sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) faces numerous obstacles when it comes to participation in public procurement procedures. The survey responses indicate that problems crop up in all phases of the process: during the development of tender documents, the collection and evaluation of tenders, and the implementation of the contract. The majority of respondents believe corruption is widespread in public procurement, and that political or personal connections are a prerequisite for being awarded public procurement contracts. Furthermore, there is a pervasive lack of trust among the business community in the public procurement system and in the likelihood of corruption and irresponsible public spending being sanctioned. The prevalent view is that companies are forced to participate in corruption in order to survive in the market.
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Pravna zaštita u postupcima javne nabave podrazumijeva skup pravnih normi koje uređuju mehanizme koji stoje na raspolaganju sudionicima u postupcima javne nabave u Bosni i Hercegovini (BiH), ako smatraju da su im odlukom ugovornoga tijela povrijeđena njihova prava i pravni interesi. Adekvatan normativni okvir osigurava i ostvarivanje temeljnih ciljeva pravne zaštite u postupcima javne nabave, kakvi su poticanje konkurencije, sprječavanje diskriminacije, nepotizma i korupcije. Na temelju takvog normativnog okvira, omogućava se i nabava roba i usluga bolje kvalitete za nižu cijenu (engl. best value for money), utječe se na racionalno trošenje javnopravnih sredstava i na brži gospodarski razvoj, te se osigurava i prilagodba temeljnim načelima i drugim standardima europskoga prava.
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Iako je usvajanjem Zakona o javnim nabavkama u Bosni i Hercegovini iz 2014. godine donesen i niz novih odredaba koje imaju za cilj unaprijediti transparentnost u procesu javnih nabavki, i dalje u tom domenu postoje ograničenja koja mogu imati značajne negativne implikacije na praksu. Zakonskim okvirom, između ostalog, nije osigurana adekvatna dostupnost informacija o planiranim javnim nabavkama, budući da se planovi javnih nabavki ne objavljuju na portalu javnih nabavki. Objavljeni planovi nabavki ne uključuju postupke za dodjelu ugovora male vrijednosti, niti se odluke o dodjeli ugovora putem ovih postupaka objavljuju javno. Uočljiv je nedostatak odredaba koje bi doprinijele objavljivanju ugovora koje javni sektor sklapa sa ponuđačima. Također, nisu razvijene smjernice za primjenu kriterija za ocjenjivanje ponuda, posebno kriterija ekonomski najpovoljnije ponude. Stoga je od ključne važnosti unaprijediti zakonsku regulativu kako bi se uklonile uočene manjkavosti, te osigurao znatno veći nivo transparentnosti u javnim nabavkama u Bosni i Hercegovini.
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Transparentnost se često izdvaja kao jedan od ključnih pokazatelja pravednog i funkcionalnog sistema javnih nabavki, a podrazumijeva dostupnost svih relevantnih informacija koje omogućavaju zainteresiranim subjektima da budu upoznati sa pravilima i procedurama koje se primjenjuju u procesu javnih nabavki. Ukoliko javni organ ne osigura adekvatan nivo transparentnosti, nije moguće provjeriti da li je postupak javne nabavke proveden nepristrasno i u skladu sa procedurama. U tom kontekstu, transparentno provođenje javnih nabavki doprinosi većoj odgovornosti javnih organa i efikasnijoj kontroli trošenja javnih sredstava. Ugovorni organi u Bosni i Hercegovini (BiH) dužni su transparentno provoditi postupke javne nabavke, osigurati jednak i fer tretman svih ponuđača, a sve sa ciljem postizanja najbolje vrijednosti za javni novac. Ovi principi propisani su Zakonom o javnim nabavkama u Bosni i Hercegovini (u daljnjem tekstu: ZJNBiH), koji je usvojen u aprilu 2014. godine, kao dio reforme sistema javnih nabavki i usklađivanja domaćeg zakonodavstva sa legislativom Evropske unije. Novi, modernizirani zakonski okvir u BiH uspostavljen je deset godina nakon usvajanja prvog Zakona o javnim nabavkama iz 2004. godine, koji je u praksi pokazao brojne manjkavosti, između ostalog, i u domenu transparentnosti. Iako je novim zakonom bolje normiran aspekt transparentnosti u javnim nabavkama, i dalje su uočljivi nedostaci koji bi mogli imati značajne implikacije na praksu. U ovoj analizi upravo je jedan od ciljeva procijeniti u kojoj mjeri zakonski okvir osigurava adekvatan nivo transparentnosti u javnim nabavkama u BiH, te na koji bi se način transparentnost mogla unaprijediti. Analiza nudi uvid u glavne prepreke transparentnosti u oblasti javnih nabavki, posebno u svjetlu međunarodnih standarda i komparativnih praksi, prvenstveno se fokusirajući na postojeća zakonska i institucionalna rješenja u ovoj oblasti. Potrebno je napomenuti da se novi Zakon o javnim nabavkama BiH primjenjuje tek od novembra 2014. godine te određeni podzakonski akti relevantni za transparentnost još nisu doneseni. Iz tog je razloga uvid u praksu javnih nabavki ograničen u ovoj fazi istraživanja. Ovaj izvještaj stavlja fokus na obaveze javnih institucija da, u skladu sa Zakonom o javnim nabavkama BiH, samoinicijativno objavljuju ključne informacije o javnim nabavkama, koje omogućavaju provođenje postupka javnih nabavki, ali i uvid javnosti u proces dodjele ugovora. Također, pristup svim javnim informacijama u posjedu bilo koje institucije u BiH, uključujući i specifične informacije o javnim nabavkama, moguće je zahtijevati u skladu sa zakonima o slobodnom pristupu informacijama, koji su usvojeni na državnom i entitetskom nivou, no taj aspekt transparentnosti nije predmet ove analize. Za potrebe ovog izvještaja u obzir su uzete glavne rasprave konceptualne prirode kada je u pitanju transparentnost u procesima javnih nabavki. Potom je urađen pregled međunarodnih standarda u ovoj oblasti, sa fokusom na Direktive Evropske unije o provođenju postupaka javne nabavke, kao i na presude Evropskog suda pravde. Također, predstavljene su komparativne prakse u domenu transparentnih javnih nabavki u zemljama Evropske unije, koje imaju inovativne pristupe unapređenju sistema javnih nabavki, poput Slovačke i Portugala. Posebno su analizirani zakonski okviri i prakse zemalja regije zapadnog Balkana, koje su u posljednjih nekoliko godina inovirale svoj zakonski i institucionalni okvir u ovom domenu, kao dio procesa približavanja članstvu u Evropskoj uniji. Ovdje se prije svega misli na iskustva Hrvatske, Srbije i Slovenije. Analizirani su i dosadašnji izvještaji u ovoj oblasti, te stari i novi zakonski i institucionalni okvir. Konačno, urađeni su intervjui sa predstavnicima ključnih institucija, uključujući Agenciju za javne nabavke (u daljnjem tekstu: AJN) i Ured za razmatranje žalbi (u daljnjem tekstu: URŽ), kao i sa predstavnicima poslovne zajednice u BiH.
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The European Commission (EC) has proposed a directive that provides protection of people performing work for digital platforms, especially in professions that do not require specialist qualifications. If the proposal is accepted in the shape presented by the EC, it will be a breakthrough solution on a global scale that adjusts labour law to the challenges of the digital economy. It will also strengthen the EU’s position in relations with platforms.
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Shaken by the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the EU has adopted a series of legal acts to reduce dependence on authoritarian powers, create new instruments to defend against unfair competition, and facilitate the modernisation of the industrial sector. The smooth implementation of the green and digital transitions will be crucial to the success of these measures, but it requires additional financial resources. Furthermore, the drive to increase self-sufficiency in strategic sectors and build a low-carbon, sustainable economy is difficult to reconcile with a liberal approach focused on deregulation and short-term profit maximisation.
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