On Tuesday, 12 June 2018, the European Union and Council of Europe, together with the Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia and beneficiary institutions, will meet to take stock of the 2nd year of implementation of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey”.
The partners will review the interim results of the actions undertaken in Serbia and the functioning of the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM), which covers requests for ad hoc expert advice on legislative and policy issues.
Actions in Serbia:
- Enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons;
- Supporting effective remedies and mutual legal assistance;
- Strengthening legal guarantees for independent and impartial tribunals;
- Strengthen integrity and combat corruption in the higher education;
- Fostering a democratic school culture;
- Preventing and combating trafficking in human beings;
- and Strengthening the protection of national minorities.
The total funding envelope for these actions amounts to 3.5 million EUR. They are funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.
Ms Jadranka Joksimović, Minister of European Integration, Ambassador Sem Fabrzi, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia and Ms Delphine Freymann, Head of Division, Office of the Directorate General of Programmes in the Council of Europe will open the meeting.
The meeting will bring together representatives of the beneficiary institutions, including the Ministries of Justice; Interior; Education, Science and Technological Development; Public Administration and Local Self-Government; Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs; and Health; the Ombudsman’s Office; Commissioner for Protection of Equality; Office for Human and Minority Rights; Supreme Court of Cassation; Republic Prosecutor’s Office; Judicial Academy; State Prosecutorial Council; as well as civil society organisations.
The meeting will start at 9:30 am on 12 June 2018, in hotel Metropol Palace, Nikola Tesla Hall, in Belgrade. The meeting will be in English and Serbian, with simultaneous interpretation.
Media are welcome to cover the opening speeches. A short press briefing will be given at 10:00 in the press corner. Separate interviews can be arranged upon prior request.
Contact for media requests: Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, 
Ms Mona Alghaith; Delegation of the European Union, Ms Danijela Božović.
