News on ensuring justice
Budget planning for Free Legal Aid among the key topics discussed at the 16th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for FLA
The 16th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid (NCB), gathered in Skopje to discuss the most important challenges regarding the functioning of the free legal aid system in North Macedonia. Supported by the European Union and the Council of...
Montenegro steps up justice reform and victims’ protection
The 5th meeting of the Steering Committee of the joint European Union and Council of Europe action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims' rights in Montenegro”, held online, brought together institutional stakeholders and partners to review the...
Ensuring sustainability in the process of preventing radicalisation and countering violent extremism in prisons in the Western Balkans
At the 5th Steering Committee (SC) of the regional action on “Enhancing co-operation in the Western Balkans in managing violent extremism in prisons and preventing further radicalisation after release”, partners and beneficiaries confirmed their joint commitment to bring forward sustainability in...
Constitutional Court of Montenegro strengthens human rights jurisprudence through expert meeting in Podgorica
In a continued effort to enhance the application of human rights standards in jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, a working meeting was organised with the aim to address complex legal issues that often result in varying interpretations of constitutional rights. The event,...
What should citizens and local communities of North Macedonia know on the use of Free Legal Aid services? Awareness-raising activities organised in all regionsss-raising activities organised in all regions
In order to inform the people of North Macedonia on free legal aid opportunities and how to ensure better use and access to these services, an awareness-raising initiative kicked off on 16 July 2023 2023, with informative events in all regions of North Macedonia. The series of...
Increasing the efficiency of North Macedonia’s penitentiary network – stakeholders discuss key recommendations
Prison governors, judges, representatives of Ombudsman’s Office, the academia and civil society representatives gathered in Skopje to discuss key recommendations to increase the penitentiary network efficiency, following the assessment mission that took place in January 2025, supported through...
Building the next generation of free legal aid providers in North Macedonia
Legal clinics authorised to provide primary legal aid play a vital role in promoting access to justice and upholding human rights in line with European standards. In a continued effort to strengthen equal access to justice in North Macedonia, 16 law students participated in the second cascade...
Trauma-informed therapy for women offenders to be introduced soon in Albania
The Council of Europe is assisting the Albanian prison service in the process of introducing for the first time the trauma-informed therapy for women offenders. It promotes emotional recovery by being aware of patient’s triggers as well as recognises the signs of trauma and builds on a...
Improving penitentiary healthcare system – North Macedonia’s and Kosovo* authorities exchange best practices
A delegation from North Macedonia, consisting of medical personnel working in penitentiary institutions, senior officials of the Ministry of Health, as well as the Acting Head and key representatives of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions (DES), visited Kosovo on 3-4 April 2025. The...
Serbia takes steps to strengthen execution of ECtHR judgments
Key discussions on the execution of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments took place in Belgrade, as representatives of the Department for the Execution of ECtHR Judgments and the Co-operation Programmes Division of the Council of Europe met with relevant Government stakeholders to...
Venice Commission provides important opinions for the authorities in Kosovo*
The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM), a unique instrument in the hands of the public stakeholders in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, continues to provide essential legislative expertise and policy advice, as a key support for the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of...
Budget planning for Free Legal Aid among the key topics discussed at the 16th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for FLA
The 16th meeting of the National Co-ordination Body for the implementation of the Law on Free Legal Aid (NCB), gathered in Skopje to discuss the most important challenges regarding the functioning of the free legal aid system in North Macedonia. Supported by the European Union and the Council of...
Montenegrin courts advance judicial efficiency and strengthen legal reasoning
Montenegrin courts are taking significant steps to enhance legal reasoning and improve judicial efficiency, as highlighted in a two-day working meeting held in Budva on 22 and 23 March 2025. Organised in close cooperation with the Supreme Court of Montenegro, the meeting was supported by the...
New Handbook on legal reasoning in administrative disputes in Montenegro
As part of ongoing efforts to support judicial reform and strengthen the quality of administrative justice in Montenegro, a new Handbook on Legal Reasoning in Administrative Disputes has been published and disseminated to all judges and legal advisors of the Administrative Court of Montenegro....
Strengthening legal expertise on expropriation and human rights in Albania
How can legal professionals better protect property rights while balancing public interest- this was the focus of a specialised training on expropriation and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case law, bringing together more than 50 judges, state advocates, lawyers, and magistrates....
Practical training for judicial spokespersons in Montenegro: Crisis communication in focus
In an effort to enhance the judiciary’s capacity to communicate effectively during crises, a specialized workshop for judges' spokespersons was held, focusing on the Protocol for Crisis Communication for Courts. The workshop provided a hands-on approach, drawing from real-life case studies and...
Judges trained to apply European Court of Human Rights standards on detention
The first in a series of four planned workshops on the application of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for judges handling criminal cases was held on 14 March in Niš. The workshops are organized by the joint European Union and Council of Europe action „Strengthening...
European Union and Council of Europe support Montenegro’ efforts in strengthening judicial financial independence
The EU and the Council of Europe continue to support Montenegro in advancing judicial independence to reinforce the justice system and advance the European integration, including through the development of a dedicated law regulating the salaries and other material rights of judges and...
Advancing inter-institutional co-operation, for better protection of property rights in Albania
Enhancing inter-institutional co-operation is key in the efforts to strengthen property rights and ensure a more effective execution of European Court of Human Rights judgments in Albania. This was highlighted during the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting of the action Improving the protection of the...
Legal professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina introduced to CEPEJ HELP online course, adapted to BiH context
More than 50 judges, court secretaries, and legal professionals from across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered today to launch the CEPEJ-HELP online training “Quality of Justice – The Work of CEPEJ.” The course aims to enhance judicial efficiency by providing participants with practical knowledge of...
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