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.”