Today, Minister of Justice Nela Kuburović met with the Delegation of the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee to discuss the upcoming amendments to the Constitution concerning the judiciary and anti-corruption. In the meeting, Minister Kuburović noted that the drafting of the amendments to the judicial provisions of the Constitution was almost completed and that, following the New Year, the draft amendments would be submitted to the Venice Commission. She explained that the amendments would not enter further phase of the adoption procedure unless the Commission’s positive opinion was received.
Kuburović stressed that the subject amendments represented the largest reform on the Ministry’s agenda, one which aimed to strengthen the independence of judges and prosecutors. She noted that the objective of the amendments was to exclude the National Assembly from the process of election of judges and prosecutors and the Serbian Government from the process of their nominations. She added that the Ministry of Justice would hold a public debate on the amendments after it has submitted them to the Venice Commission.
On the topic of fight against corruption, Minister Kuburović highlighted that the new Organisation and Competencies of Public Authorities in Fighting Organised Crime, Terrorism and Corruption Act would come into force on 1 March 2018, as a result of which she was confident that Serbia would achieve much better results. She added that a special focus was on corruption prevention mechanisms which the new Anti-Corruption Agency Act would reinforce.
She concluded by announcing that the amended Bill would be published and submitted for a public debate after the New Year’s holiday.
The Delegation of the European Union-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee was composed of its Chair Eduard Kukan and the following members: Tanja Fajon, Franc Bogovič, Andor Deli, Gunnar Hökmark and Thomas Waitz.