“I will make sure to show my students this session so they can see that legal arguments can and should be presented in an engaging, not dry, way,” said Igor Popović from the Faculty of Law in Banja Luka, reflecting on a Grand Chamber session he attended during his study visit to the European Court of Human Rights and Council of Europe bodies in Strasbourg.

For the legal professionals and professors on the visit, it was a reminder of why their work matters: ensuring people in Bosnia and Herzegovina can rely on clear, consistent protection of their rights. “I think everyone, including legal professionals in BiH, should adopt this approach when presenting legal arguments,” Popović added.

The delegation included senior officials from the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH and academics from universities in Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka, and Zenica.

During the study visit, they met with staff from the Court’s Directorate of the Jurisconsult to explore how consistent case law is maintained and how digital tools improve efficiency and access to information. They also learned from the Venice Commission Secretariat and the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence about safeguarding democratic principles and the rule of law amid rapid technological change.

The visit offered a more detailed insight into how the Court operates, manages cases, and deliberates. “This visit was enriching because, for the first time, I could feel how the Court lives and breathes behind its decisions,” said Ivana Zovko Plančić, Head of the HJPC Secretariat. “Seeing how cases are analysed and monitored, including the use of new AI technologies to make the job easier, was especially valuable.”

She highlighted the importance of discussions with Court representatives on ongoing cases in BiH and the progress of executing outstanding judgments.

Delegation members agreed that many examples from Strasbourg could guide efforts to strengthen the judiciary back home. They also emphasised the value of bringing together legal practitioners and academics to enrich discussions and translate new insights into practice in BiH.

The study visit was organised as part of the Council of Europe project “Support to a coherent national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and facilitating the execution of judgements of the European Court of Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, which is funded through the Action plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2022-2025.