Conference “Let the Justice Rule the Region,” Focusing on Chapters 23 and 24, Kicks Off in Belgrade

Tanja Miscevic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

A two-day regional gathering titled “Let the Justice Rule the Region,” focusing on Cluster 1 in negotiations with the EU and held under the auspices of the National Convention on the EU in Serbia, opened in Belgrade on April 11.  

Opening the conference, the National Convention on the EU in Serbia coordinator, Bojana Selakovic, said that the expert conference aimed to focus on the issues under Chapters 23 and 24, part of Cluster 1, and which were related to the judiciary and fundamental rights and also justice, freedoms, and security.

Serbian EU Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic described cooperation with the civil sector in key areas as very important. She noted that sometimes state and civil sector representatives had different positions, producing argumentation in support of different stands in the EU integration process. “The civil society is a balance, they champion reforms and draw our attention to new developments, while the state tries to find realistically feasible solutions,” Miscevic specified. 

She recalled that the National Conventions in the region had been created based on the Slovak model, adding that they “are very useful in monitoring the negotiating process.”  

Dutch Ambassador to Serbia Theodorus Antonius Reintjes expressed his country’s strong support to the reform in the rule of law in the Western Balkans. “It is not easy, but things have been moving forward and we are glad to see it happening,” the ambassador said, adding that the event was a good opportunity for sharing experience. He also noted that communication among experts in the region was very strong.  

At the opening, the participants were also addressed by the coordinators of the National Conventions on the EU in North Macedonia and Albania, Mileva Djurovska and Gledis Gjipali, respectively.