After the letter written by TI BiH, the appointments of members of the City Development Agency Board of Directors are being reviewed again

In its letter sent to the City Assembly, TI BiH emphasized that the Commission for selection did not follow basic principles of the Law on Ministerial, Government and other Appointments of the Republic of Srpska, primarily the principle of independent verification and quality that should enable appointment of the best candidates.

Banja Luka, 7th November 2017 – After Transparency International in BiH (TI BiH) had addressed the Banja Luka City Assembly emphasizing the irregularities in the process of selecting the members of the Board of Directors of the City Development Agency, the draft proposal on their appointments has been withdrawn from the session of the City Assembly.

The Mayor of Banja Luka has recently approved the appointment of three members of the Board of Directors of the City Development Agency in accordance with the Public Invitation announced by the City Assembly. TI BiH has found that one of the proposed members did not meet the prescribed conditions related to the competences, since this person graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy – Department of Teacher Education Studies and has been working in several elementary schools. Prescribed conditions, on the other hand, implied working experience of minimum 5 years and expertise in the activities conducted by the City Development Agency, which include attracting foreign investments, creating entrepreneurial climate, implementing projects of the City economic development, etc.

As the Assembly of the City of Banja Luka is in charge of final appointments, TI BiH addressed the Assembly pointing out that the person with a working experience from the elementary schools and a professional education of elementary school teacher cannot adequately perform function of a member of the Board of Directors within the Agency that should attract foreign investments and stimulate economic development. In its letter sent to the City Assembly, TI BiH emphasized that the Commission for selection did not follow basic principles of the Law on Ministerial, Government and other Appointments of the Republic of Srpska, primarily the principle of independent verification and quality that should enable appointment of the best candidates.

According to the letter sent by TI BiH, this issue has been withdrawn from the session of the Assembly, with the explanation provided by the Mayor that „given the warning received from the NGOs, it is necessary to re-consider the proposals determined by the members of the Boards of Directors“.

TI BiH welcomes the decision of the Mayor of Banja Luka, and appeals to the City Administration and City Assembly to conduct the appointment procedure in accordance with the Law on Ministerial, Government and other Appointments of the Republic of Srpska, as well as to ensure that no final appointment is performed unless the provisions of this Law are applied.

Press rls – 07.11.17.e.