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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Justice ministry prepares laws necessary for visa abolishment

Belgrade, 7 August 2008

Serbian Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic stated that in the first round of parliament sessions, the Ministry will propose laws necessary for the abolishment of the visa regime towards EU countries, which is a priority and an important matter for Serbian citizens.

Snezana Malovic

In an interview for today’s edition of the Vecernje Novosti daily, Malovic stressed that the laws which will enable Serbia to enter the white Schengen list have already been drafted and have passed expertise at all important stances in the EU, adding that their adoption is now a matter of parliament and its efficiency.

The Serbian government’s official website gives excerpts of the interview.

On formation of appellation courts, Supreme Court of Cassation, state council of prosecutors:

This is the essence of the Justice Ministry’s future activities. It is a complex matter, but rest assured that we will carry it out successfully. The Ministry’s team is young and ambitious, and what with the advice from people who spent their entire lives in the judiciary, we will set up all the necessary courts as envisaged by draft laws. In late August we will have an important meeting with all renowned representatives of the judiciary to once again look at the final version of a set of laws on the judiciary. I would like them to give the final word on these laws, so that afterwards we can propose them to the government and parliament.

Will there be a re-election of judges?

Setting up a new court network and reorganisation of courts is our current need. Judges and prosecutors will deal with issues such as responsibility at work, re-election and efficiency. We at the Ministry will take up a portion of responsibility in the sense of ensuring appropriate conditions for the work of the judiciary in line with our financial situation. Furthermore, as one of 11 members of the High Judicial Council, I will take an active part in the protection of interests of all Serbian citizens who want an efficient and independent judiciary. As the Minister of Justice, I will fight for a better position of the Serbian judiciary and try to make a contribution to its full depolitisation.

On threats to judges:

Judges and prosecutors must have normal working conditions in line with the state’s budget. We will not tolerate threats and pressure aimed at judges and prosecutors and we will show how a legal state acts in such situations. We started to equip courts with technical equipment in order to prevent unfortunate scenes from the previous period.

Will Serbia meet its Hague obligations this year?

Serbia has respectable institutions dealing with this issue and they have my full support. It is in our country’s interest to fulfil our international obligations because we thus protect our essential interests based precisely on the respect of international law. By that I mean the fight for Kosovo-Metohija as an inalienable part of Serbia, which is one of the two main government aims. I am a part of the team called the Serbian government, and the competence of the Ministry of Justice is defined by law.