EU provides 4.5 million euros to support the judiciary in fighting organized crime and corruption

(Patria) - As part of the European Union's (EU) continuous support for the rule of law sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the second phase of the EU4Justice project: Support for Professional Judiciary and Fight Against Organized Crime and Corruption, financed by the EU with 4.5 million euros, was presented today in Sarajevo.

The funds for this project were provided through the European Union's Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), with the aim of supporting the rule of law and the fight against organized crime and corruption by strengthening the independence, effectiveness, accountability, and efficiency of the judicial sector in BiH. The project will last for three years, from December 2022 to November 2025.

"This project is a continuation of the EU's commitment to support the reform of the judicial sector, and it involves more than just technical assistance. It is about joint action by the EU and member states, as we like to say 'Team Europe', and it includes a process of close cooperation between the judiciary and other actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their partners from EU member states. I thank our partners from France, Germany, and Spain for their commitment to the successful implementation of the project," said Ambassador Johann Sattler, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH.

"However, sustainable progress and alignment with EU standards require the active participation of a wide range of actors. It is crucial that the authorities in BiH demonstrate commitment and diligently follow the agreed reform agenda," said Sattler.

Building on the success of the first phase of this project (2019 - 2021), the implementation of EU4Justice Phase II will involve various judicial institutions across BiH – the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, the Prosecutor's Office of BiH, courts, the Ministry of Justice of BiH, law enforcement agencies, and the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of Fight Against Corruption, as well as numerous other actors, with the aim of improving the rule of law, mechanisms for fighting organized crime and corruption, and ensuring an efficient and transparent judiciary in BiH.

During implementation, the project will launch a series of activities, such as strengthening monitoring and evaluation capacities, promoting integrity, improving career management, strengthening disciplinary proceedings, and fostering coordination within the criminal justice chain. Through these activities, the project aims to further align the judicial system in BiH with European standards.

The President of the HJPC BiH, Halil Lagumdžija, emphasized that the HJPC is a long-term partner of this project, and that the HJPC participated in it throughout the entire first phase, and from the very beginning of the second phase of the project.

"This project offers us an excellent opportunity to embark on the path of genuine reforms, and I believe we must seize this opportunity with determination. This initiative will enable us to learn from the best European practices and exchange experiences with other EU member states," he said.

The project is implemented by the French public agency Expertise France, in partnership with the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation and the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy. Implementation partners bring knowledge and experience from judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies across Europe, as well as the best European models and practices when it comes to an efficient, transparent, and independent judiciary.

"We expect the EU4Justice project to contribute to real progress in the rule of law sector, and the judiciary through privileged cooperation with our partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina. France therefore supports the European Union's efforts in favor of strengthening the judicial system in the country through the EU4Justice project, phase II," said H.E. Christine Toudic, Ambassador of the Republic of France to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through the EU4Justice Phase II project, the European Union aims to make a lasting contribution to the improvement of the judiciary and the fight against organized crime and corruption in BiH through continuous activities. This significant investment represents the EU's ongoing support on the country's path towards a more transparent, accountable, and efficient judicial system.