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 High Prosecutorial Council discusses progress achieved and future challenges in Serbia

Belgrade 15 May 2026
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High Prosecutorial Council discusses progress achieved and future challenges in Serbia

The High Prosecutorial Council of Serbia gathered prosecutors, legal experts and former and current Council members in Belgrade on 15 May 2026 to assess progress achieved since the institution’s establishment in 2023 and discuss key challenges ahead in strengthening the independence, accountability and transparency of Serbia’s prosecution service.

Established following constitutional and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening autonomy of prosecution service, the Council used the round table to reflect on how its institutional mandate and new competences have been implemented in practice, while identifying priorities for the incoming composition of the institution.

The participants focused on strengthening the independence and accountability of the prosecution service, including the need for fostering transparency of the Council’s work and reporting, communication with the public and media and relevant stakeholders. The role of the Council in promotion of professional ethics and integrity and protection from undue influence was particularly emphasised.

The round table was an excellent opportunity to foster a dialogue within the Council and ensure continuity of the institution, taking stalk of the results achieved and jointly identifying the forthcoming steps in consolidating the High Prosecutorial Council as a genuine holder of judicial branch of power.

This event was organised within the framework of the Action “Strengthening legal culture in Serbia and capacities of the judicial and prosecutorial councils”, under the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, in co-operation with the High Prosecutorial Council.

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.