Work in this thematic area focuses on prisons and police (including human rights in policing, healthcare in prisons and safeguards against torture and ill-treatment), human rights standards in the judiciary (focusing on enhancing the application of case-law of the European Court of Human Rights), the efficiency of justice systems (with a focus on analysing judicial statistics to optimise court administrations) and/or legal co-operation (which concentrate on increasing the individual independence of judges and prosecutors and the accountability of the judicial system).

Back Bosnia and Herzegovina courts draw inspiration from French and European justice models during study visit

Strasbourg and Paris 19 June 2025
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Bosnia and Herzegovina courts draw inspiration from French and European justice models during study visit

Presidents, judges, and secretaries from five pilot courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina explored effective models of court management and justice delivery during a three-day study visit to judicial institutions in France and the Council of Europe, held from 17 to 19 June 2025.

Organised under the joint European Union and Council of Europe action Strengthening the efficiency and quality of justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiHSEJ) led by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), the visit aimed to strengthen the quality of justice and public trust in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the exchange of good practices.

The delegation had the opportunity to learn about the work of the Strasbourg’s Maison de la Justice et du Droit, a special decentralised structure aimed at ensuring a local judicial presence, guaranteeing citizens access to justice and promoting alternative methods of resolving everyday disputes.

The exchange at the Strasbourg first-instance court were focused on good practices of court management, evaluation of the work of judges, available tools to ensure communication between the court and the lawyers, as well as with the public.

The visit to the Court of Appeal of Versailles allowed an exchange on practicalities of court management and budgeting, organisation of hearings, and awareness-raising initiatives concerning issues of domestic violence.

Finally, the representatives of the pilot courts were able to hear about the latest developments in the work of the CEPEJ working groups and to discuss their most recent tools. During an exchange with the judge of the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the topics focused on the work of the Court, relevant cases and judgements, and their execution by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The study visit was organised as part of the CEPEJ action “Strengthening the Efficiency and Quality of Justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIHSEJ),”  under the Council of Europe and European Union’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Wester Balkans and Türkiye.” 

Actions under theme i: ensuring justice
  • Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice in Albania - Phase III  
  • Supporting enforcement of judicial decisions and facilitating execution of ECtHR judgments in Albania           
  • Enhancing the protection of human rights of prisoners in Albania  
  • Strengthening human rights treatment of detained persons based on European standards and best practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina  
  • Strengthening the quality and efficiency of justice in Kosovo* -  Phase II  
  • Accountability of the judicial system in Montenegro - Phase II  
  • Improved procedural safeguards in judicial proceedings in Montenegro  
  • Further enhancing human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Montenegro  
  • Strengthening independence and accountability of the judiciary in Serbia  
  • Strengthening the effective legal remedies to human rights violations in Serbia  
  • Enhancing the human rights protection for detained and sentenced persons in Serbia  
  • Supporting enhanced access to higher quality Free Legal Aid services in North Macedonia  
  • Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the external oversight mechanism in North Macedonia                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  • Supporting the implementation and reporting on the Action Plan on Human Rights in Turkey  
  • Judicial training institutes for Quality and Sustainability in the Western Balkans 
  • Initiative for legal certainty in the Western Balkans  
  • Enhancing penitentiary capacities in addressing radicalisation in prisons in the Western Balkans  
  • Towards a better evaluation of the results of judicial reform efforts in the Western Balkans  
  • Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) in the Western Balkans 
  • PACE cooperation with the parliamentary assemblies with a view to achieving legislative improvements in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.