More Training for Serbian Prosecutors on Reporting Undue Pressure

The joint Council of Europe and European Union Horizontal Facility action “Strengthening Legal Guarantees for Independent and Impartial Tribunals” continued to provide training to Serbian prosecutors on identifying and reporting unlawful or undue influence. On 15 March twenty prosecutors from Nis appellate region and on 16 March another twenty from Belgrade appellate region attended a workshop focusing on identifying and resisting both internal and external pressures.

Two Council of Europe experts were joined by several members of the State Prosecutorial Council, including Goran Ilic, the Commissioner for Autonomy, who presented the work of the newly-established Commissioner to his colleagues and explained the possibilities of reaction and protection that it provides with respect to political and other types of influence.

Several case studies from Council of Europe member states were discussed, including the European Court of Human Rights case law. Special attention was put on the media as a source of pressure on one side, and as a possible tool for resisting it on the other.