The first high-level round table on harmonisation of court practice in Montenegro took place on 2-3 October 2017, in response to emerging needs to find ways to better support harmonisation of case law. It was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Action “Fighting ill treatment and impunity and enhancing the application of the European human rights case law on national level” which is being implemented in Montenegro under the joint Council of Europe and the European Union programme “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey”.

Presidents of all Montenegrin courts, judges of the Supreme Court, the National Agent before the European Court of Human Rights and case law departments’ staff had a chance to discuss national mechanisms for ensuring a coherent of judicial practice that can contribute to a more effective resolution of numerous legal issues stemming from the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights and the application of the national legislation.

The speakers emphasised the importance of legal certainty inherent to the right to a fair proceedings and recalled the standards established by European Court of Human Rights.

As a result, the platform for enhancement of capacities of the judicial practice departments will be developed, as they play a significant role within the Supreme Court and function as a direct communication channel between the highest court in Montenegro and all other courts.