Director for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo issues in the European Commission Directorate General for Enlargement, Mr Jean-Eric Paquet, chairs a EU-BiH joint seminar in Sarajevo today. The exercise aims at setting priorities to expand the EU-BiH Structured Dialogue on Justice to additional rule of law matters, thus touching progressively beyond issues merely relating to the functioning of the judiciary.
A crucial contribution is given by the BiH civil society representatives, which have been invited along with members from the communities of practitioners. Government officials from BiH and entity institutions participate as well. Among other expected priorities, discussions cover fight against corruption, fundamental rights, home affairs, capacities of law enforcement agencies, overall efforts to fight against organised crime.
“Today we kicked-off a mapping exercise with a preliminary exchange for the identification of future priorities. These will be consolidated progressively and through further consultations, with a view to set a clear and feasible agenda for reform. This process is expected to pave the way for new achievements in the rule of law. Citizens have the right to see the rule of law irreversibly entrenched throughout BiH: crime, systemic vulnerabilities to corruption, and criticalities still affecting fundamental rights need to be tackled in parallel, with targeted measures, as a matter of urgency”, Director Paquet stated in Sarajevo today.
This exercise is a first follow up to the last visit of the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mr. Štefan Füle. On that occasion, also following constructive consultation with civil society representatives, Commissioner Füle announced three new targeted initiatives to pave the way for reforms in BiH and facilitate processes that would meet the demands of the citizens.
