HJPC Session Begins: EU Delegation, US Embassy, and OSCE Letter to be Discussed

SARAJevo, (Patria) - A session has begun at the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, where chief prosecutors of the KS Prosecutor's Office, Posavina Canton, and the president of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo are to be appointed.

Before the session began, Milan Tegeltija, President of the HJPC, stated that he had received a letter from the EU, the US Embassy, and the OSCE, which will also be discussed today, after the appointments.

We remind you that a letter signed by the EU Delegation, the US Embassy, and the OSCE was sent to the president and members of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, concerning the scandal that shook the HJPC.

"The HJPC of BiH has developed and adopted a number of very important reforms in 2018. The common goal of all these reforms was to strengthen the rule of law in BiH and build trust in the judicial system, especially regarding citizens' perceptions. The European Commission and other members of the international community have expressed their satisfaction with these reform efforts to the Council. Recently, unfortunately, we have noticed certain worrying developments that negatively affect the implementation of these reforms, related to the areas of submitting asset declarations, performance evaluation, and the appointment of judges and prosecutors. Although certain implementation difficulties are common in any reform undertaking, and the Council has already recognized the need for periodic progress reviews – such as reviewing the impact of the evaluation reform at the end of the year – these developments are more serious and appear to be an attempt to postpone or even question the joint reform efforts undertaken in the past period," the letter states.

At the HJPC session, Sabina Sarajlija, Sead Kreštalica, and Sanin Bogunić will present their programs as candidates for the chief prosecutor of the KS Prosecutor's Office.

Luka Dabić, a candidate for prosecutor of Posavina Canton, will also present his program. Vladimir Špoljarić, a candidate for president of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, will also present his program.