The joint Council of Europe/European Union project, “Support for the Implementation of Judicial Reform in Serbia”, organised an educational workshop on the opportunities, challenges, and risks of using AI in the judiciary in Belgrade. The workshop brought together over 20 representatives of relevant judicial institutions, as well as professional associations, attorneys-at-law, and civil society representatives.

The aim of the workshop was to discuss the findings of the Analysis of the State of Play and Perspectives of the Use of AI in the Judiciary in Serbia with decision-makers from various judicial institutions and professionals in the field. The comprehensive presentation provided fundamental information on the concept of AI, an overview of European standards in this domain, and a detailed review of the risk classification of various AI tools, illustrated with examples from justice administration. This was followed by a panel discussion led by local experts from the Council of Europe, who examined different challenges and risks from both civil and criminal law perspectives. The ongoing process of normative regulation in this field in Serbia was also addressed. Experts from state institutes engaged in the development of various ICT tools for public administration highlighted numerous challenges in their work, including insufficient cooperation with the judiciary.

The panel discussion served as a valuable platform for initial reflections on identifying potential areas for AI integration in the judiciary. It also facilitated insightful perspectives from professional associations of judges and prosecutors, fostering an exchange of experiences from daily practice. The joint Council of Europe/EU project, “Support for the Implementation of Judicial Reform in Serbia”, continues to promote professional discussions among all relevant stakeholders to support important legal reforms in Serbia in alignment with European practices.