High Representative amends Law on Administrative Fees of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The High Representative, Wolfgang Petritsch, yesterday issued a Decision imposing an amendment to the Law on Administrative Fees of Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the amended Law, Ministries will be allowed to adopt and change administrative fees by means of by-laws. At the same time, ministries will have to apply a principle of fairness and reasonableness when determining the actual amount of any administrative fee which must reflect the cost of the service provided.

Currently, fees are determined by the law. This makes eventual changes to fees cumbersome and is inflexible. In addition, some administrative fee tariffs remain unreasonably high, placing an excessive financial burden on the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Law on Administrative Fees was originally imposed by the High Representative and had entered into force on 31 of July 1999 on an interim basis. The Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina was meant to adopt the Law but failed to do so.