Serbia: Strengthening independence and accountability of the judiciary
The Council of Europe is implementing the Action “Strengthening Independence and Accountability of the Judiciary in Serbia” as a part of the European Union and Council of Europe programmatic framework “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II” (Horizontal Facility).
The three-years Action focuses on the building capacities of judges, prosecutors, judicial and prosecutorial assistants to detect and counter risks of undue influence and to reinforce internal mechanisms, rules and procedures within the High Judicial Council (HJC) and the State Prosecutorial Council (SPC) to ensure guarantees of judicial and prosecutorial independence.
Shortcomings within the Serbian judiciary in the sphere of ethics and integrity will be addressed as well, by working with the Ministry of Justice to develop and/or to improve the relevant legislature, by supporting the HJC and the SPC ethics committees, and by designing measures to introduce a system of confidential counselling within both the judiciary and the prosecution service.
The establishment of a fair and merit-based system of performance evaluation and career advancement of judicial professionals is a further expected outcome of the Action.
Finally, the Action intends to enhance the co-operation and the information flow between the executive and the judiciary.
Horizontal Facility: Serbia - Strengthening the independence and accountability of the judiciary
New Code of Ethics for Serbian prosecutors adopted
The Serbian State Prosecutorial Council (SPC) adopted the new Code of Ethics for Public Prosecutors and Deputy Public Prosecutors at the session held on Friday 23 April 2021. The amendments to the Code of Ethics were based on the recommendations of the Analysis of Prosecutorial Ethics in Serbia...
Horizontal Facility: Serbia - Strengthening independence and accountability of the judiciary
Heads of European Union Delegation and of the Council of Europe Office welcome new rules aimed at preventing undue influence on judges and prosecutors
The Heads of the European Union Delegation and of the Council of Europe in Serbia have welcomed today the decisions on judicial independence adopted by Serbian High Judicial Council (HJC) and the State Prosecutorial Council (SPC) on 15 and 19 April 2021 respectively. Last Thursday, the HJC...
Horizontal Facility - Serbia: Strengthening independence and accountability of the judiciary
5th meeting: Guidelines on ethical dilemmas for Serbian prosecutors finalised
The Serbian State Prosecutorial Council’s Working Group tasked with amending the Code of Ethics for public prosecutors held its fifth working meeting from 7-9 April to discuss the proposed changes to the Code together with a set of guidelines on ethical dilemmas. Members of the Working Group...