Public Debate Held on the Draft Law on HJPC BiH

(Patria) - Organized by the Committee on Legal Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH (PA BiH), a public debate on the Draft Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of BiH was held today at the PA BiH building.

Opening the public debate, Committee Chairperson Albin Muslić informed the attendees about the procedures and the stage of the Draft Law.

He reminded that the House of Representatives of the PA BiH, at its 36th emergency session held on December 22, 2025, adopted the Draft Law on the HJPC of BiH in the first reading and tasked the Committee on Legal Affairs to conduct a public debate within 30 days.

During the public debate, attended by MPs and delegates of the PA BiH, representatives of the Council of Ministers of BiH, judicial institutions, the professional and academic community, as well as international institutions and civil society organizations, a comprehensive discussion was held during which various views, opinions, and proposals regarding the proposed legal solution were presented.

Speaking about the reasons for adopting the new law, the participants emphasized the need to strengthen the independence, accountability, and transparency of judicial institutions, as well as to harmonize domestic legislation with European standards.

They specifically addressed issues concerning the composition and competencies of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, the procedure for electing its members, ethnic representation, and disciplinary responsibility mechanisms.

It was jointly assessed that the adoption of the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, as a key step towards restoring citizens' trust in the state's judicial system, represents the foundation of the rule of law and a stable democratic society.

Concluding the public debate, Muslić thanked the participants for the suggestions and proposals made to improve the legal text, and announced the preparation of a report on the conducted public debate, after which the further legislative procedure in the House of Representatives will continue.

As stated, the submitted opinions of the European Commission for Democracy through Law – Venice Commission, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as relevant associations of judges and prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will also be an integral part and annex to that report.