As a part of its efforts to enhance national implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights, the action “Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia” has been supporting placements of Serbian legal professionals in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

For Milan Bajić and Nikola Djekić, legal advisers at Serbia’s Supreme and Constitutional Courts, a six-month placement at the ECtHR in Strasbourg provided a unique insight into how European legal principles are interpreted at the highest level. By closely engaging with the Court’s rulings on freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and other fundamental issues, the advisers have not only expanded their knowledge of the Convention system, but also, upon their return, shared their experiences within Serbia’s judiciary.

Milan emphasised how the placement in Strasbourg deepened his understanding of comparative law. Relying on his research, judges from the Supreme Court could draw on broader jurisprudential trends when evaluating cases, thereby enhancing the quality and coherence of domestic rulings. “Judges are experienced professionals who quickly grasp the different options available to them,” he says. “But they cannot regularly follow the latest jurisprudence from the ECtHR, and they need to be provided with key highlights.”

In this regard, the ECHR Knowledge Sharing Platform serves as a valuable tool, offering the Supreme Court access to the latest developments in ECtHR case-law and other jurisprudence. Each week, Milan and his colleagues from the Case Law Department of the Supreme Court select the most significant cases and circulate them to the Criminal and Civil Departments, allowing judges to request further clarification or a more detailed analysis.

In September 2025, twelve judges of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Department attended an in-house training on Article 6 of the ECHR, covering recent ECtHR case-law on the right to defence, presumption of innocence, circumstantial evidence, and other issues that Milan presented.

Milan has also brought lessons from Strasbourg directly into the Judicial Academy. Over two semesters, from September 2024 to June 2025, the XII generation of Judicial Academy trainees gained a thorough understanding of four articles of the Convention through presentations on relevant jurisprudence and interactive case studies on the application of European standards during the training seminars which the action “Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia” organised together with the Judicial Academy. “The trainees’ response was very positive,” Milan explains. “I provided them with a short yet comprehensive overview of ECtHR case-law, which will serve as a reliable reference for them as future judges.”

“I attended a three-month training in Strasbourg myself,” he adds. “The placement helped me understand internal Court procedures – for example, how committees operate, the role of a single judge, and the functioning of the fast-track procedure.” Something from which young legal professionals at the Judicial Academy could certainly benefit.

Milan’s colleague from the Constitutional Court, Nikola, also spent six months in Strasbourg, observing first-hand how carefully each case is considered and how much attention is given to the reasoning behind every decision. “During my time at the ECtHR, I became familiar with case-law showing that a violation of a right is examined even when the applicant has suffered no significant harm,” he says. Nikola drafted Single Judge Notes and, for cases reviewed by a panel of three judges, Committee Notes. This work taught him to clearly and precisely explain alleged rights violations, focus on what truly matters, and navigate complex cases.

At the Constitutional Court of Serbia, Nikola contributed upon his return from Strasbourg to improving the drafting of decisions. “For the first time, the Constitutional Court found a violation of the right to property in the context of pensions, stressing that the authorities’ decisions had effectively terminated the applicant’s entitlement to a pension that had been recognised before,” he recalls, describing a case in which a pensioner’s rights had been cut, prompting the Court to assess the protection of property rights in accordance with ECtHR jurisprudence. His work also strengthened the Court’s assessment of the proportionality of restrictions on freedom of assembly.

After his return, Nikola became a go-to adviser for colleagues dealing with complex issues. “I answered questions from my colleagues concerning the confiscation of property as a security measure, the admissibility of applicants, judicial protection for whistle-blowers, the prohibition of discrimination, and many others,” he says. He shared his knowledge widely, circulating training materials and drawing on insights gained from his contacts at the ECtHR.

These are still an important resource in his work today. “I exchange with my colleagues at the ECtHR useful information on cases and jurisprudence,” he explains. For Nikola, the placement in Strasbourg was a valuable professional experience that gave him the tools to support the Constitutional Court in aligning more closely with European human rights standards.

The action “Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia“ is part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.

“For me, the most important insight was realising that environmental problems are not ‘neutral’, but that they affect certain groups of people much more strongly.”

This reflection, shared by Vasilije Keranović from the Panel of Young Advisors to the Protector of Citizens, after working with students on a Council of Europe survey, captures one of the key messages emerging from the new Special Report on Youth and Environmental Rights. Presented in Belgrade, the report sheds light on how young people in Serbia increasingly understand environmental degradation as an issue closely linked to inequality, discrimination and access to rights.

“I understood that pollution, poor living conditions and climate change are most strongly felt by those who already have fewer opportunities to protect themselves or to influence decisions,” Vasilije adds. He also highlights another important takeaway from the process. “Another important fact is that many adults, especially educated people, are willing to take action on these issues.”

The survey was conducted among 1,044 primary and secondary school students across Serbia. Its findings show that more than half of respondents believe environmental degradation affects vulnerable groups the most, pushing them further to the margins of society. Students most often identified children, people living in poverty, national minorities, older people and persons with disabilities as those most exposed to environmental problems. At the same time, nearly one in three respondents were unable to identify which groups are most at risk, pointing to gaps in access to information and awareness.

These findings closely reflect the discussions Vasilije had with students while implementing the survey. Their reactions were mixed. Many welcomed the fact that the questionnaire was adapted to their language and completed via mobile phones, while others initially approached it as an informal classroom activity rather than a meaningful opportunity to express their views.

“The reactions were different,” Vasilije explains. “Students were happy that they could complete the survey on their phones and that the questions were simple and adapted to their way of speaking, but they also saw it as something informal, just an activity that takes time away from the lesson.”

At the outset, this attitude was often linked to a lack of confidence that their opinions could lead to change. “Yes, at the beginning students were uninterested and believed that their opinions would not change anything,” he says. “I explained to them that we are not only the future of the Republic of Serbia, but also its present, and that changes start with small things, such as filling in surveys like this or recycling plastic juice bottles.”

Once students began engaging more deeply with the topic, many quickly recognised the connection between environmental harm and social inequality. For Vasilije, this understanding is essential for fostering responsibility and solidarity among young people. “It is important for young people to understand these inequalities because it develops a sense of solidarity and responsibility towards others,” he says. “If we understand that environmental problems are not the same for everyone, it becomes much easier to advocate for fair solutions that bring benefits, especially to vulnerable groups.”

In his view, the survey results also reflect a broader shift among younger generations. “I think this shows how much today’s generations have progressed and that we are ready to actually do something concrete for the benefit of our country,” Vasilije adds.

Looking ahead, he believes decision-makers need to better recognise the role young people can play. “I would like decision-makers to understand that young people are not passive observers, but that they have clear views and a willingness to get involved,” he says. He underlines that the fight against discrimination and social inequalities must go hand in hand with environmental protection. “The fight against discrimination and social inequalities plays a key role in our society, especially among young people. Serbia must keep pace with the world and ensure that any form of belittling vulnerable groups is strictly sanctioned.”

Environmental protection, he concludes, is a fundamental step in the country’s development. “The fight to preserve the environment is also a key step in the development and improvement of the Republic of Serbia. If decisions are made without involving young people and without understanding how they affect the most vulnerable, those solutions will not be long-term or fair.”

The initiative is implemented within the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with the Protector of Citizens, the Panel of Young Advisors and civil society organisations, ensuring that young people’s insights directly contribute to recommendations and future decision-making.