European court president on Serbian judiciary

The European Human Rights Court head cited judges' appointments and corruption as Serbian judiciary's main problem.

Izvor: B92

Saturday, 22.09.2007.

14:33

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The European Human Rights Court head cited judges' appointments and corruption as Serbian judiciary's main problem. “I am surprised at the manner in which judges are elected here as their independence and impartiality is not being guaranteed,” Jean-Paul Costa said in Belgrade on Friday ahead of a meeting between representatives of the Strasbourg-based court and the Judicial Center of Serbia. European court president on Serbian judiciary “Corruption troubles the judiciary systems in the entire region, not only in Serbia,” he said, adding that he hopes Serbia could successfully tackle that problem. According to Costa, his court thus far has not received a large number of cases from Serbia, as only three years have passed since Belgrade signed the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. “The cases we are processing usually pertain to trivial affairs, as there have been no rulings on any grave violations of human rights,” he said. Costa explained that the Serbian citizens mostly complained to the court with regards to excessive length of trial proceedings and inaccessibility of judicial bodies. Nonetheless, he voiced optimism in the positive outcome of ongoing reforms in the Serbian judiciary. Meanwhile, the Association of Serbian Judges representatives see Costa’s remarks on the judiciary in Serbia as “well founded.” Association President Dragana Boljevic told B92 that with help of a good system for the evaluation of judges’ work it would be possible to, after one or two years of employment, dismiss the judges falling short of meeting the necessary criteria. She said “it was not normal and completely contrary to European standards” that in certain cases judges are being appointed by the parliament. “We have a situation where judges for certain courts are being elected by the parliament, by the legislative authority, where legislative and judicial powers are supposed to be completely separated,” noted Boljevic.

European court president on Serbian judiciary

“Corruption troubles the judiciary systems in the entire region, not only in Serbia,” he said, adding that he hopes Serbia could successfully tackle that problem.

According to Costa, his court thus far has not received a large number of cases from Serbia, as only three years have passed since Belgrade signed the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

“The cases we are processing usually pertain to trivial affairs, as there have been no rulings on any grave violations of human rights,” he said.

Costa explained that the Serbian citizens mostly complained to the court with regards to excessive length of trial proceedings and inaccessibility of judicial bodies.

Nonetheless, he voiced optimism in the positive outcome of ongoing reforms in the Serbian judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Association of Serbian Judges representatives see Costa’s remarks on the judiciary in Serbia as “well founded.”

Association President Dragana Boljević told B92 that with help of a good system for the evaluation of judges’ work it would be possible to, after one or two years of employment, dismiss the judges falling short of meeting the necessary criteria.

She said “it was not normal and completely contrary to European standards” that in certain cases judges are being appointed by the parliament.

“We have a situation where judges for certain courts are being elected by the parliament, by the legislative authority, where legislative and judicial powers are supposed to be completely separated,” noted Boljević.

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