Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to BiH, Mr. Melvin Asin, officially opened on April 9 in Zenica the site for the construction of the new building of the Prosecutor’s Office of Zenica–Doboj Canton.
The construction works, which are financed by the European Union under IPA 2012 in the amount of just over 1,3 million EUR, started in March this year and completion is scheduled for March next year.
In his opening address, Mr. Melvin Asin stated that construction of this building represents the EU’s continued effort to increase judicial efficiency in BiH and better services for citizens, by improving working conditions in courts and prosecutors’ offices, security aspects, access for disabled people, supporting witnesses and other participants in the court proceedings.
“The infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally in a very poor condition and courts and prosecutor’s offices are often placed in inadequate locations, lacking space for proper accommodation of employees and other parties in the proceedings. The EU’s aim is to help improve this situation. Infrastructure is a key part of the judicial services for the citizens, and our significant financial support through IPA funds is going towards renovation, reconstruction and even construction of new buildings for courts and prosecutor’s offices – such as the building whose construction we are officially launching today,” stated Mr. Asin.
He also added that in terms of further financial support for the justice sector through IPA II, the EU has set the priority of the adoption of the BiH justice sector reform strategy for the period 2014-2020.
The Prime Minister of Zenic–Doboj Canton, Mr. Miralem Galijašević, stated that with the assistance of the European Union, the construction of the new Prosecutor’s Office will create conditions for an independent and technically equipped prosecution.
Chief Prosecutor of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Ms. Vesna Kaknjo, emphasised that with this investment the Prosecutor’s Office will solve the problem of insufficient space, which will contribute to greater efficiency of all employees. “After the construction, the Prosecutor’s Office will have a building area of about 2,5 thousand square meters as per European standards and will have departments for witness support, as well as a department to prosecute war crimes,” stated Ms. Kaknjo.
The EU has allocated 10.250.000 EUR from the IPA 2012-13 for the rehabilitation of six priority courts and prosecutors’ offices in Banja Luka, Bihac, Doboj, Mostar, Sarajevo and Zenica.
The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH (HJPC) provided locations in close consultation with the FBiH and RS Ministries of Justice. The HJPC also provided assistance in provision of the technical design documentation for the rehabilitation of the judiciary buildings, which was funded by the Norwegian and Swedish Embassies.
