Spring completion of works on the reconstruction of the Palace of Justice in Sarajevo

(Patria) - Works on the reconstruction and adaptation of space in the Palace of Justice building in Sarajevo are entering the final phase, which will provide the Municipal and Cantonal Courts in Sarajevo with an additional 3,000 square meters of new working space.

This is the first major infrastructural project for expanding the capacity of judicial institutions in Sarajevo Canton in over ten years.

The new space includes modernly equipped offices, meeting rooms, and other work areas, thereby creating better working conditions for judges and court staff, as well as prerequisites for more efficient conduct of court proceedings.

The realization of the project became possible after the relocation of the Miljacka Correctional Facility from the Palace of Justice premises, which created conditions for the reconstruction and adaptation of that part of the building to modern needs of judicial institutions.

The project is being realized with donor support from the European Union amounting to 3.5 million euros, and it is being implemented by the Ministry of Justice and Administration of Sarajevo Canton, with the support of the Sarajevo Canton Government and in coordination with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Minister of Justice and Administration of Sarajevo Canton, Darja Softić Kadenić, says that this is a project that represents an important step in strengthening the institutional capacities of the judiciary in Sarajevo Canton.

- This is the first serious infrastructural project of investment in judicial institutions in Sarajevo Canton after more than a decade. The process that led to this phase took years.

It included a series of complex steps - from the relocation of the Miljacka Correctional Facility, through resolving property-legal and technical issues, to obtaining all necessary permits for the reconstruction of the building, which has the status of a cultural and historical monument - said Softić Kadenić.

She added that the realization of the project was further complicated after the fire that affected part of the building, but that the institutions managed to ensure the continuity of work and create all technical prerequisites for the completion of the project.

- Despite additional challenges, the Ministry of Justice and Administration, in cooperation with project partners, managed to secure the necessary technical and administrative prerequisites for the renovation and reconstruction of the space.

In this way, we are creating better conditions for the work of judges and court staff, as well as for citizens who visit these institutions daily.

The project was realized with significant donor support from the EU, in cooperation with the HJPC of BiH, and with the support of the Sarajevo Canton Government and Prime Minister Nihad Uk, who recognized the importance of investing in the judiciary's infrastructure as part of a broader strengthening of the rule of law in Sarajevo Canton - concluded the minister.

The completion of the works is expected in the spring of 2026, when the Municipal Court and the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo will gain significantly expanded and more modern spatial capacities.