Court presidents and representatives of relevant judicial institutions from Serbia were part of a capacity building activity organised in Belgrade by the Supreme Court with the support of the EU and Council of Europe joint action “Strengthening legal culture in Serbia and the capacities of the judicial and the prosecutorial councils”.  The training aimed at strengthening their knowledge and practical skills related to court management, integrity, communication and institutional governance.

Participants discussed key aspects of effective court management, including leadership responsibilities, organisational challenges and good practices in judicial administration. Particular attention was devoted to integrity and ethics, with a focus on risk factors, prevention of conflicts of interest and ethical challenges associated with managerial functions in the judiciary.

The programme also addressed communication skills essential for court presidents, including assertive communication, conflict management and public speaking. Participants further explored issues related to financial and accounting management of courts, internal supervision and audit mechanisms, as well as communication with the public and media.

Special focus was placed on transparency and access to information of public importance, including personal data protection, as important elements for strengthening public trust in the judiciary. The training concluded with discussions on communication protocol and practical approaches to professional oral and written communication.

This activity forms part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacities, enhance professionalism and accountability within the judiciary, and promote greater transparency and public confidence in judicial institutions in line with European standards.

This training was organised with the support of the action “Strengthening legal culture in Serbia and the capacities of the judicial and the prosecutorial councils”, part of the EU and Council of Europe joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.