SARAJEVO, Jan 6 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina must get a single customs administration, and this job must be done in the few coming weeks, said the deputy head of the European Union's mission in Bosnia, Renzo Daviddi, on Monday.
SARAJEVO, Jan 6 (Hina) - Bosnia-Herzegovina must get a single
customs administration, and this job must be done in the few coming
weeks, said the deputy head of the European Union's mission in
Bosnia, Renzo Daviddi, on Monday. #L#
Presenting at a news conference a final report on the customs policy
and customs services' organisation, Daviddi said international
experts agreed that the current state of affairs was no longer
viable.
According to our estimation, Bosnia-Herzegovina loses every year
between 400 and 600 million convertible marks (200-300 million
euros) due to the evasion of payment of customs duties for imported
goods. This is the most expensive form of embezzlement and
corruption in Bosnia, the Italian diplomat said.
The basic cause for such a situation is the existence of three
separate customs administrations - two in the two entities (the
Croat-Muslim federation and the Serb entity) and the third in the
Brcko district - and they practically do not cooperate at all.
International experts have suggested to High Representative to
Bosnia-Herzegovina Paddy Ashdown that in the coming weeks he should
take urgent measures so as to set up the customs administration at
the state level and ensure that comprehensive and united recording
of import and tariffs be led.
Their another proposal is the reduction of stations of customs
services and a through examination of customs officers so that all
who have got this job thanks to their membership in some political
parties or who have received bribes, can be sacked.
The EU mission's deputy head announced that a report on the Bosnian
tax system would soon be compiled and that the introduction of the
Value Added Tax would be proposed.
(hina) ms