Commissioner Hahn wrote to Memić: EC expects the tragic death of your son to be fully investigated

BRUSSELS, SARAJEVO, (Patria) – European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn sent a letter on 3 July to Muriz Memić, father of the murdered young man Dženan Memić, in which he stressed that the European Commission expects the case of the tragic death of his son to be fully investigated and taken up without delay by the competent courts, while fully respecting European standards of criminal procedure.

„While the conduct of the investigation and trial is the responsibility of the competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Commission is intensifying its efforts in monitoring the functioning of the rule of law system in Bosnia and Herzegovina,“ Hahn stated in the letter to Memić.

He points out that senior experts from European Union member states are analysing the functioning of law enforcement agencies, as well as their interaction with prosecutors' offices, and trials for some serious criminal offences. 

„The findings from this initiative will be discussed at a rule of law convention planned for this autumn. This convention will bring together not only institutions from all levels of government, but also civil society and experts. Respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms is a prerequisite and a litmus test of the credibility of the authorities' commitment to European integration. These issues are at the very core of the recent Commission Opinion on the EU membership application for Bosnia and Herzegovina,“ Hahn stated.

Commissioner Hahn concludes the letter addressed to Memić by stating that the European Commission will continue to monitor the case of his son and support citizens' aspirations for strengthening the rule of law. 

„In addition, I will personally ensure that our concerns about judicial implementation are regularly heard in public debate,“ Hahn concluded.

Photo: Patria

As previously announced by the EU Delegation, the European Commission launched a new initiative in early April to monitor the entire rule of law system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from law enforcement agencies to courts.

"The initiative will focus on monitoring and assessing the effective implementation of reforms in the area of the rule of law and strengthening accountability in the rule of law chain in BiH, with full respect for the independence of the judiciary. The rule of law is key in the enlargement process and is at the centre of the ongoing preparation of the European Commission's Opinion on BiH's EU membership application," the EU Delegation stated. 

The initiative will last until November 2019 and is led by experienced rule of law expert Reinhard Priebe, who is based in Sarajevo.