Justice Minister: Venice Commission’s Opinion on Judicial Bills Expected Soon

Maja Popovic(BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC/MO)

Serbian Minister of Justice Maja Popovic said in Belgrade on Oct. 3 that her ministry is awaiting the Venice Commission’s opinion on a package of bills drafted as the next step in Serbia’s judiciary reform.

“After discussing all the proposals, objections and suggestions made by experts and the general public, as well as any possible recommendations by the Venice Commission, the Ministry of Justice will issue the revised drafts for public discussion and response – a mandatory phase in the drafting of a bill which is initiated by an official government decision,” Popovic told the latest issue of the Politika daily.

According to her, if necessary, the Ministry will re-submit the revised drafts to the Venice Commission by the end of November.

The minister explained that Ministry of Justice working groups prepared a set of bills that comprises the Law on Judges, the Law on Organization of Courts, the Law on High Judicial Council, the Law on Public Prosecution and the Law on State Prosecutorial Council.

The drafts, Popovic said, provide a detailed legal framework regulating the position of judges and public prosecutors, namely the prerequisites and procedures for their election into office, how and when their employment ends and what their duties and responsibilities entail. The bills also determine the position, jurisdiction, internal organization and operation of the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council, including the prerequisites and procedures for the election and termination of their members, the minister stated.