Dear President Novkovic, Ladies and Gentlemen, Excellencies,

It is my pleasure to join you all today to mark our continuous support to the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and to judiciary institutions throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As you know the European Union does not get tired to point to the challenges that the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina faces to come closer to the standards necessary for the EU integration. From strengthening and ensuring it´s independence as the third pillar of the country´s checks and balances to facing the painful legacy of thousands of war crime cases – we are the first to point out the many weaknesses that remain to be addressed urgently.

Yet I am here today to also point to the great achievements. Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen impressive inroads over the past years in strengthening judicial efficiency and accessibility. BiH has done so through the above leadership of the HJPC and the delivery by the country´s judges, prosecutors and their staff. BiH has done so with the assistance and the coordinated efforts of donor support, involving the EU, Norway and Sweden.

In the past the EU has supported the HJPC with direct grants above           9 M EUR, putting amongst other into place a Case Management System which is considered as the most advanced system in the Western Balkans. But a tool is worth nothing if it does not get put to proper use and that we have in BiH. More 5,000 users in courts and prosecutor offices throughout the country now handle the nearly 4 million civil and criminal cases through it. It has made it possible to begin address the significant backlog of cases and to process and close 140 000 cases in the past two years, which corresponds to an increase in the productivity equivalent to the work output of more than 50 judges. In 2012 the backlog was thus reduced by 7 percent.

In addition, today each court and prosecutor office has a judicial portal and 10,000 judicial decisions may be accessed by judges, prosecutors, lawyers and law students. This makes justice accessible to citizens.

Therefore, I am very happy to sign today additional 1,8 M EUR to continue this success story, to make further inroads, further develop and further improve the efficiency of the e-judiciary and to gain public confidence in the justice system.

Let me immediately say, this is only one part of the EUs support to the justice sector which amounts to 41 M EUR under the Instrument for Pre-Accession so far and which we continue with 11.5 M EUR already programmed for the next years. This includes our support to reconstruction of courts and prosecutor offices, direct budgetary support for the resolution of war crime cases, equipment, capacity building and training.

This assistance, imbedded in the broader EU-BiH structured dialogue on Justice underlines our unequivocal commitment to the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The European future of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a reality, but let me be clear on that, this also means the country and its authorities at all levels have a lot to do. Partly this directly relates to the continued efforts which the judiciary has to make to reduce the backlog further, to become more transparent and accountable, and increase the accessibility to citizens. However it also means that it is provided with the space to do its work safe from political influence and interference.

With the direct financial support the EU is providing, the HJPC has already effectively and successfully addressed some of the key challenges. The coordinative role of this institution is crucial for the effective functioning of the judiciary in BiH. Let me therefore take this opportunity to acknowledge and welcome its work and the work of all judicial institutions of BiH and encourage you to continue.

This is not only a responsibility towards those that financially assists you, but it is primarily a responsibility towards the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Citizens are justified to expect from judicial institutions to render justice, but also to create an environment supportive of economic growth, job creation and the reduction of corruption.

Thank you very much.