Representatives of the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) of the Council of Europe met with relevant state institutions to discuss the execution of ECtHR judgments concerning Serbia.
The delegation met with the Agent of the Republic of Serbia before the ECtHR, who acts as the coordinator of the execution process in Serbia, and with representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance. The main topic of discussion was the execution of judgments from the Kačapor and Others group of cases, which pertain to the longstanding issue of non-enforcement of domestic court decisions relating to the debts of socially/state-owned companies. In the most recent decision of the Committee of Ministers regarding this group of cases, progress was noted, and at the meeting steps were discussed that need to be undertaken to complete the execution of these judgments.
Additionally, the execution of judgments related to the failure to comply with interim measures of the ECHR (Antić v. Serbia, Ali v. Serbia) was discussed. In response to these judgments, contact persons were appointed in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure timely execution of the ECtHR's interim measures. The functioning of the new system in practice was discussed, as well as planned amendments to the Law on International Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Moreover, opportunities for changes to laws and practices concerning the confiscation of property in criminal and misdemeanour proceedings were considered, given that the ECtHR has issued several judgments against Serbia related to this issue. [1] Finally, the meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss possible legislative changes to ensure the execution of judgments in the cases of Kovač v. Serbia (hearing of the accused during extension of detention) and Boljević v. Serbia (impossibility of reopening paternity proceedings due to statute of limitations).
These meetings are part of the efforts of the action "Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia," aimed at supporting state institutions in the execution of judgments of the ECtHR through the provision of a platform for information exchange and coordination. The action is implemented within the framework of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey."
