The Annual Conference of Judges of the Republic of Serbia - Judicial days 2024 was traditionally organised in Vrnjačka Banja from May 23 until May 25, 2024. The joint CoE/EU project “Support for the implementation of the Judicial Reform in Serbia” contributed to the organisation of the Annual Conference for the 2nd time. In the opening address, the Head the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade Mr Janos Babity emphasised the fact that this year the Council of Europe is marking its 75th anniversary. Mr Babity pointed out the important results Serbia achieved in the field of the rule of law and fundamental rights during the 21 years of its membership in the Council of Europe, in particular the recent Constitutional changes and the adoption of new judicial and prosecutorial laws.
Following the opening speech of the President of the Supreme Court Jasmina Vasović, the opening addresses were given by the Minister of Justice Popović, the President of the High Judicial Council Delibasic, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia Ambassador Giaufret, the judge of the European Court of Human Rights Lubarda and other representatives of international organisations and supreme courts from the region.
The program of the conference involved a consideration of the current important legal topics in plenary sessions and dedicated panel discussions organised in criminal, civil and administrative sections. The Council of Europe expert Ms Canolic Mingorance Cairat, a member of the Bureau of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE), presented the European practice, CCJE opinions and standards in the field of appraisal of judges, underlining the value of evaluation of judges’ performance in the context of independence, accountability and protection from undue influence.
The commitment of Council of Europe to offer further support to the implementation of judicial reform and enhancement of the rule of law thorough cooperation programs was restated.
