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 Serbian prosecutors discuss judicial reform and European standards

Belgrade 16 April 2026
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Serbian prosecutors discuss judicial reform and European standards

Members of the Prosecutors' Association of Serbia, convened at a round table in Belgrade to discuss key developments within Serbian judiciary, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen legal culture and enhance the capacities of judicial and prosecutorial councils.

The discussions centred on the recent election for the High Prosecutorial Council, analysing the election process through the lens of transparency, independence, and integrity. Participants also addressed relevant opinions and views of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors. The exchange highlighted the importance of upholding European standards and best practices in Serbia's prosecutorial governance to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the reform process.

In line with the Council of Europe commitment to strengthen legal culture and practice in Serbia, the meeting emphasised the need for continued collaboration to build up institutional capacities within prosecutorial bodies. Participants reaffirmed their engagement to supporting transparent and accountable procedures, as well as promoting the integrity of the prosecutorial profession in Serbia.

This initiative is organised under the action “Strengthening legal culture in Serbia and capacities of the judicial and prosecutorial councils”, part of the EU and Council of Europe joint Horizontal Facility III programme. The action will continue to partner with all relevant actors, including professional associations, to further advance judicial reforms and strengthen the legal culture in Serbia in line with the European values.

 

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.