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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Support of European institutions to reform Serbian judiciary

Belgrade, 20 April 2006

Serbian Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic voiced hope today that the Serbian parliament will adopt next month a national strategy of the judiciary reform, according to which the judicial system should undergo changes within next five years which will speed up Serbia's accession to the European Union (EU).

Author: Tanjug

Speaking at a presentation of Serbia's national strategy of the judiciary reform and the European Agency for Reconstruction's (EAR) project for support to the implementation of the strategy, which was held in the Belgrade Intercontinental Hotel, Stojkovic explained that the strategy is based on four crucial principles, and these are independence, transparency, responsibility and efficiency of the court system.

According to Stojkovic, court authority and the judicial system must be defined by the new constitution of Serbia, because only in that way can they be a guarantee of the rule of law.

The Minister said that the High Judiciary Council would be a guarantor of the institutional and individual independence and autonomy of courts, while the judicial system of Serbia would be composed of a higher court of cassation, a court of appeals, higher instance courts and courts of general jurisdiction.

Stojkovic specified that the strategy envisages the formation of a judiciary budget, but he explained that Serbia does not have the necessary infrastructure and capacity for adequate planning and financial management.

Head of the European Commission's Delegation to Serbia-Montenegro Josep Lloveras welcomed the completion of the strategy and stressed that the rule of law is the basis of democracy and that it provides a framework for economic and social development.

Lloveras explained that the strategy's implementation will be an important step and announced that the European Commission and the EAR will offer assistance in its implementation.

Head of EAR office in Belgrade Daniel Giuglaris voiced support for the work of the Ministry of Justice and the Serbian government and added that this agency will offer them all necessary expert assistance, but that it will not influence or decide the course of implementation of the strategy.

Head of the Council of Europe's Office in Belgrade Stefano Valenti said that the greatest problems of the Serbian judiciary are pressures from various groups, low salaries, an insufficient number of staff, a large number of unsolved cases, and the possibility of exercising the right to a fair trial.

Valeri announced that the Council of Europe will continue to offer advisory assistance to Serbia's authorities and said that it is very important that the public be informed on the judiciary reform as well.