CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES WARNS OF TIME BOMBS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT

SARAJEVO, APRIL 18 (ONASA) – The indolence of state authorities in carrying out their basic function to protect and secure the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is truly astounding, the absence of basic normative documents on the protection of critical infrastructure in BiH is another in a series of omissions and carelessness. a government institution for the prevention and strengthening of the resilience of infrastructure and services in the era of contemporary challenges and threats, the Center for Security Studies announced.
Critical basic infrastructure includes energy supply, transport, (drinking) water supply and waste disposal, and socio-economic services infrastructure includes public health, food for humans and animals, rescue services, disaster management control, financial and insurance services, means of information, cultural objects (cultural-historical heritage) and others.
There are numerous natural, technical and human risks and threats such as earthquakes, floods, terrorism or cyberattacks that can threaten the functionality of critical infrastructure and key assets and cause enormous problems in providing regular and high-quality services necessary for the normal functioning of existing systems of supply chains of goods and services that are provide citizens.
At the level of the state, entities of the Federation of BiH and Brčko District of BiH, there is not a single law or regulation, and especially a strategy that would regulate this essential area of protection of citizens and the infrastructure system.
At the entity level of Republika Srpska, in June 2019, the Law on the Safety of Critical Infrastructures was adopted, which is a positive step forward, but it is not an adequate framework because the consequences of eventual disasters can significantly cross the borders of entities or states.
The European Union regulations also oblige us to act in this security segment.
In order to improve the efficiency and functionality of the common segment of action, the EU adopted the new Directive (EU) 2022/255, which repealed the previous directive from 2008, which was transposed into their legislation by all the countries of the region.
The obligation in question was not included in the Work Program of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2023, but we hope that this comprehensive initiative to protect the health and safety of citizens, as well as the entire infrastructural system, will receive adequate attention and concrete measures from the competent institutions as a matter of urgency.