REGIONAL COOPERATION AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

CEFTA-2006 AND ANHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF THE REGION - SOME SECTORAL ASPECTS
European Union, because it is necessary to provide guarantees for independent, professional
and efficient judiciary able to apply European standards, the Ministry of Justice has proposed
the National Judiciary Reform Strategy, which was adopted by the National Assembly on
May 25th of 2006.
The main goal of the National Judiciary Reform Strategy is independent and efficient
judiciary able to implement European standards which would restore the citizens’
confidence in the judicial system of the Republic of Serbia by establishing the rule of law
and legal certainty.
The aim of the reform is to establish high-quality, independent and effective judiciary.
Effective judiciary is based on the fundamental principles that provide a framework
for the establishment, development and organization of judicial institutions. Four basic
principles are: independence, transparency, accountability and efficiency. An independent,
transparent, accountable and efficient judiciary is capable of implementing European
standards, the protection of human rights and civil liberties and establishing the rule of law
and legal security.
National Judiciary Reform Strategy has determined the period of six years (2006-2012)
for the implementation of reform objectives and the establishment of the judicial system
that will answer the needs of new social values and restore the confidence of citizens. The
reform of the judiciary of the Republic of Serbia includes twelve fundamental goals of the
reform. Each of these four basic principles (independence, transparency, accountability
and efficiency) contains three targets.
The first goal of judicial reform is the creation of an independent judicial system. It includes
three targets: independent administrative management, independent budget authority,
independent establishment of general framework and internal structure and work of the
courts. Another objective of the Strategy is the creation of transparent judicial system.
Conditions for its implementation are: open appointment process and the improvement of
judges and open disciplinary proceedings, appropriate access to information from court
records and procedures, and improved public relations and greater participation of the public.
The third goal of judicial reform is a responsible judicial system. For its realization it is
necessary to fulfill the following conditions: the existence of clear standards for performance
of judicial duties and their practical application, effective judicial administration and court
management, and effective use of court and prosecutorial resources. Fourth goal of the
reform is efficient judicial system. Its implementation is necessary for the following: better
access to justice, a standardized system of training and professional training of employees,
a modern network of courts and modern equipment for the judicial and penal system.
Due to the great importance of the Strategy to establish standards for independent and
effective judiciary is the realization of one of the emergency conditions of regional
cooperation and association of Serbia to the European Union, the implementation of the
project financed by the European Union through the European Agency for Reconstruction
and implemented by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
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