MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON WESTERN BALKAN COUNTRIES’ ACCESSION TO THE EU HELD: BiH’s future is in the EU, but the country is required to fulfill a number of steps for the[...]

The Ministerial Conference on Western Balkan countries' accession negotiations to the European Union (Negotiating Chapter 23: Judiciary, Anti-Corruption, and Fundamental Rights) and the steps remaining to reach this phase was held today in Sarajevo. The event gathered around 150 participants, including relevant ministers from BiH and several neighbouring countries, ambassadors of EU countries in BiH, legal professionals, government and nongovernment organizations, as well as representatives of the international community. During the opening remarks, Davor Bunoza, BiHMinister of Justice,Johann Sattler, Head of EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH,H.E. François Delmas, Ambassador of the Republic of France in BiH,Claire Bazy Malaurie, President of the Venice Commission, andBorjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of BiH, addressed the audience.

The most important message of the Ministerial conference was to encourage authorities and officials to take the necessary steps on the accession negotiation process, to be leaders of rule of law reforms and the protection of fundamental freedoms and to work in close coordination with judicial office holders, members of law enforcement and representatives of Civil Society Organisations in leading the country towards progress and well-being by fulfilling the necessary requirements for EU integration.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina's leaders have a responsibility to continue delivering reforms that will benefit all citizens and bring the country closer to the EU. The EU has clearly outlined the remaining steps for holding the first intergovernmental conference, including delivering on four critical pieces of legislation. Additionally, the country's authorities need to appoint a Chief Negotiator and negotiating team with a clear mandate based on the National Programme of Adoption of the Acquis. Ongoing reforms, especially those from the 14 Key Priorities, remain essential for progress on the EU path. The EU Office will continue its support throughout this process, including via projects like EU4Justice. However, the country's leadership must do their part and actively pursue and implement critical reforms,"said Johann Sattler, Head of EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative in BiH.

At the beginning of the conference, the audience was addressed by H.E. François Delmas, Ambassador of the Republic of France in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The political, peaceful and prosperous European project is implemented through law and justice. It is no coincidence that chapter twenty-three is at the center of the negotiation process and the issues of the rule of law are described as "fundamental". In Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in the region, there are not many challenges to which a stronger, more efficient and independent judiciary is not the answer. The fight against corruption? The answer is the judiciary. Respect and safety for everyone? The answer is the judiciary. More economic investments? Judiciary. Creating opportunities and stopping emigration, especially of young people? An open society, equal opportunities, and there they are again: the rule of law and the judiciary. The fight against violence against women, especially those who are engaged? The answer is also an efficient judiciary," emphasized Ambassador FrançoisDelmas.

The conference consisted of three panels addressing accession negotiation expectations for Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to Chapter 23 of the Acquis through the experiences of countries in the region. The Ministerial Panel presenting the experiences of neighboring countries regarding negotiating Chapter 23, achieved results, challenges, obstacles, and the way to overcome them was attended by Claire Bazy Malaurie, President of the Venice Commission, Damir Habijan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Croatia,Andrej Milović, Minister of Justice of Montenegro,andTedi Dobi, Deputy Minister of Justice of Albania. The Ministerial Panel was moderated byDavor Bunoza, BiH Minister of Justice.

"We face a difficult and challenging task of reforming the domestic legislation, which must be harmonized with our constitutional order and, at the same time, harmonized with EU Acquis. We understand that this task will require numerous compromises and agreements, particularly on issues that have been unresolved for years. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina must move forward, and that is whywe invited our colleagues from the region to exchange opinions, experiences, and good practices in order to make our path easier, from the very opening to the closing of Chapter 23. It is our task to workintensively on reforming our judiciary, as well as the fight against corruption and theprotection of fundamental rights of every individual," stated Minister Davor Bunoza.

During the expert panel, participants discussed the negotiation structure and coordination, emphasizing the harmonization of regulations with the EU acquis and the role of negotiation teams.

"Ahead of us is a road that consists of several stages and is followed by numerous procedures, and there is a lot of news brought by the new methodology by which the negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina will be conducted. That is why it is a very important message that the negotiations concern all of us and that there is work for everyone. Of course, the biggest responsibility will be on politics, because the negotiations will require making important but also difficult political decisions," said the Director of the Directorate for European Integration Elvira Habota.

The "Right to Justice" panel focused on the role and contribution of civil society organizations in the fulfillment of relevant steps by BiH, as well as expectations for their future participation in negotiation structures.

TheEU4Justice project team Leader, French prosecutor Isabelle Arnal, provided a short presentation of its activities related to the monitoring of the Reform policies in Justice system: On one side, the Reform Program of the HJPC 2024- 2026 and on the other, the future Justice Sector Reform Strategy framework of the Ministry of Justice of BiH.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Justice of BiH, EU in BiH Office, Directorate for European Integration in BiH and the EU4Justice project.

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