Representative unions operating at the level of the services for providing air navigation (BHANSA) express a deep concern and indignation due to the situation in which the Bhansa is located, which is caused by the non-existent judgment in the case of Viaduct Ltd. Portorož v. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is a long government of the Republika Srpska according to this Slovenian company, which does not intend to return this entity. These days state ministers are reviewing the options on settling debt more than 100 million KM, which grows every day by 9,000 euros.
Regardless of the fact that Bhansa was not the part in this dispute, the consequences were broken directly on the back of the Agency and all its employees. Due to the blockade of funds from Eurocontrol, its basic functioning is endangered.
From the Flying Controller Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they note that the income that the Bhansa is achieved from route fees (the fees) is over 90 percent of all income of Bhansa.
We transfer their statement in full.
– The fact that should never be ignored that Bhansa has paid in 2024 in the basis of various contributions in the entity budgets in the entity budgets, that the amount in 2025 will be over 20.3 million convertible marks, and that as an institution to take zero convertible stamps from the budget. If this blockade continues, the BHANSE will no longer have funds for regular maintenance of critical technical equipment, nor for reconciling ongoing operating costs, including the costs of fuel, direction, service, contracts and basic logistics needed for continuous air navigation services. This means a complete collapse of the system that must function 24/7 – without exception.
Flying controllers perform one of the most responsible and demanding jobs in society. Each decision must be precise, timely and infallible. The conditions in which they currently work are far from those that enable complete concentration and professional security – because uncertainty around salaries, future and stability of the institution in which they work creates a constant pressure that can hardly be ignored.
We emphasize: long-term exposure to stress and uncertainty can have consequences and on the capacity of workers to perform their duties in accordance with the highest safety standards. Although all our members seek to preserve professionalism and focus, system uncrums creates an ambience that does not guarantee sustainability. Here is not an endangered existence of only a flight controller in Bosnia and Herzegovina than all employees of Bhansa and that is something that we must not allow.
So with full responsibility, we claim: Air traffic safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina is seriously endangered.
This is not just an internal question – this is the issue of international responsibility, integrity and security. Our airspace is not only our – it is part of a global network, and everything that happens in it has direct consequences per international aircraft system.
In this context, we want to emphasize that the Trade Union of the Flying Controller in BiH has already informed international organizations whose members – Afts and IFATCA – on the seriousness of the situation. These organizations did not only express their full support, but also taken concrete steps to the issue of the Agreement in the BELGIJSKA Eurocontrol, the third parties finally arrived and that such situations would not be again repeated in the future.
In addition, representative unions in BHANSA and the Association of Controllers in BiH have already addressed domestic institutions, requiring urgent action. Also, Afceuc and Ifatac turned to both domestic and international institutions, including the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and Human Rights Ombudsmen, seeking their emergency intervention and protection of the basic rights of employees in BHANSA.
Based on the information presented to the public after the Extraordinary Assembly of the Council of Minister 11.04.2025, we believe that it is completely unacceptable for the whole story to be included in the entire Bhansa employees.
Due to all the representative unions and the Flying Controller in BiH, the BiH Council calls the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Finance to perform its obligations without delay in the manner of the acquired rights of BHANSA employees are not degraded in any way. We ask that until the decision on debt to Viaduct is made, Article 23 of the Law on Bosnia and Herzegovina at 53. Session of the House of Representatives, held on January 13, 2009. May 2009. year, adopted, in which:
BHANSA employees are not guilty of a new situation or it is normal to expect to agree that they return the debts that Bhansa has not created.
BHANSA employees do not have any responsibility or link with debts to Viaduct, and there is no justification that their funds are used to remedy other people’s debts. Such a decision would be extremely unfair, unfounded and dangerous practice that would open the door to similar irresponsible moves in the future.
If this problem is not solved urgently, unions will, in accordance with the law, be forced to initiate all available protection mechanisms and their rights, with full awareness of the severity of such a decision and its possible consequences.
Our job is to keep human lives. We are now asking that someone finally protects ours, it is stated in the statement of the Trade Union of the Flying Controller in BiH, Transfers Liberation.
