Steering Board of the Improving Judicial Efficiency Project II held a meeting

Delegations of the Norwegian Courts Administration and the Netherlands Council for the Judiciary paid a one-day visit to the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the HJPC BiH). The guests were welcomed by the HJPC President Mr Milan Tegeltija, the HJPC Vice-President Ms Ružica Jukić, Council members and the Director of the HJPC Secretariat Mr Admir Suljagić with his associates.

The purpose of the visit was to hold a meeting of the Steering Board of the Improving Judicial Efficiency Project II (Project). This Project implementation began in July 2015 and it has continued the cooperation between the relevant stakeholders through a grant agreement that was signed with the aim to improve judicial efficiency in BiH.

The participants discussed the implementation of the activities thus far as well as the plan for future Project activities aimed at improving the efficiency of courts and reducing the number of cases with a focus on improving court management through team management, shortening the length of proceedings; innovation, efficiency and case management; enhancing strategic and operational management in the judiciary in a way to empower the courts and judges to perform in the best possible way.

During the meeting, the report on "Appointments and Appraisal of Judges and Prosecutors in BiH", prepared by the Norwegian and Dutch experts within the Project, was presented to the representatives of the HJPC BiH.

In addition, the three sides discusses their future cooperation on improving the work of the judiciary in BiH. They confirmed their common interests and readiness to continue the cooperation, in line with their competencies and capabilities, while taking into account long-term and mid-term goals. In this regard, different proposals and initiatives were considered, which will be confirmed upon completion of the current Project.

The delegation of the Norwegian Courts Administration included Mr Sven Marius Urke, Managing Director, Mr Audun Hognes Berg, Head of the International Secretariat as well as Mr Wiggo Storhaug Larsen, Judge of the Appellate Court in Gulatig. The delegation of the Netherlands Council for the Judiciary was represented by Mr Frits Bakker, Chairman, Mr Frans van Dijk, Director, Ms Esther de Rooij, Vice-President and Judge of the Amsterdam District Court, Ms Annette Olland, Judge at the District Court of the Hague, Secretary and a Member of the Netherlands Selection Commission of Judges and Ms Julia Dordonat-Breeuwsma, Senior Adviser for International Cooperation.

The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the courts - partners in this Project, Ms Marija Aničić-Zgonjanin, President of the Banja Luka District Court, Mr Jasmin Jahjefendić, President of the Cantonal Court in Sarajevo, Ms Janja Jovanović, President of the Municipal Court in Sarajevo and Mr Milenko Milekić, President of the Basic Court in Banja Luka, as well as the representatives of the Embassy of Norway in BiH and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in BiH. 

For more information please contact the Cabinet of the HJPC Presidency: 033 707 594 or mobile 061 131 785.

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