Strengthening legal certainty and consistency in judicial practice was the focus of a round table that brought together judges from the highest judicial instances in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo from 14 to 15 May 2026.

The event gathered 45 judges and court representatives from the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska and the Appellate Court of Brčko District, making it one of the largest judicial forums dedicated to civil law issues in the country.

Participants discussed key challenges in civil case-law, including the admissibility of revision, the role of supreme courts in ensuring consistency of judicial decisions, and mechanisms for resolving disputed legal questions. Particular attention was given to balancing efforts to harmonise judicial practice with the principle of judicial independence.

The discussions were supported by the experience of experts from Croatia and Slovenia, who presented approaches used in their respective judicial systems. Their presentations focused on the evolution of revision procedures towards models that prioritise cases of broader legal significance, helping ensure more coherent case-law and greater legal certainty.

Participants agreed that legislative changes alone are not sufficient to improve the functioning of appellate systems and highlighted the importance of accompanying institutional and structural reforms.

The exchange of experiences and dialogue among representatives of the highest courts was recognised as an important step towards strengthening consistency in judicial practice, enhancing legal certainty and supporting the continued development of the justice system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The round table discussion was held as part of the Council of Europe project “Support to a coherent national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Phase II”, which is funded through the Action plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2026-2029.