European Commission (Photo: European Commission/Lukasz Kobus)
The set of amendments to judicial laws adopted by the Serbian parliament on Jan. 28 could represent “a significant step backwards” on Serbia’s path to the European Union, the European Commission (EC) has stated.
Speaking at a news conference, EU spokesman Guillaume Mercier said that the EU would assess the contents of the adopted laws. “Allow me to remind you that these amendments have been drafted and adopted in a rushed and non-transparent process, without public consultation with the relevant interested parties, including the European Commission and the Venice Commission,” he said, adding that, as a candidate country, Serbia was expected to strengthen court independence and autonomy of prosecution, in keeping with the EC’s recommendations.
The Assembly of Serbia has adopted a set of amendments to judicial laws proposed by an MP of the Serbian Progressive Party, Ugljesa Mrdic. All the amendments submitted by the opposition have been rejected. During the several days of debate, the ruling majority defended the bills, claiming that they would contribute to the efficiency and fairness in the work of the courts.
The opposition maintained that the essence of the bills was to enable the authorities’ greater control of the judiciary and diminish the objectiveness of public prosecutors.
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