More than a thousand Serbian judges from all courts in Serbia gathered on 23 and 24 May 2024 in Vrnjačka Banja at the Annual Conference of Judges of the Republic of Srbija. Janos Babity, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, gave an opening speach highlighting Council of Europe’s continued support for the reform processes in Serbia. Mr. Babity noted that this year is the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe and 20th anniversary since Serbia has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which is a cornerstone of the human rights protection guaranteed to citizens of all of the Council of Europe members.

The conference consisted of several plenary sessions, as well as a number of specialised panels grouped in criminal, civil and administrative sections and panels of the High Judicial Council (HJC). One of the panel discussions that drew particular attention of the participating judges was “Undue influence on the work of judges“ in which judge of the European Court of Human Rights elected in respect of Serbia, Branko Lubarda, participated with support of the action „Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia“. Judge Lubarda gave a thorough overview of the European Court of Human Rights’ case-law related to the topic, while other panelists, members of the  HJC, presented practice of the HJC.

Support to the participation of Judge Lubarda in the Annual Conference of Judges is a part of efforts of the action „Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia“ to strengthen vertical dialogue between national judiciary and the European Court of Human Rights. The action is a part of the joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe „Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye“, implemented by the Council of Europe.