Head of the EU Delegation to BiH and EU Special Representative Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark opened the newly constructed Basic Court and reconstructed District Court building in Banja Luka on Tuesday, 5 December, both financed by the European Union in the amount of EUR 2,830,000.
The construction of the Basic Court and reconstruction of the District Court in Banja Luka represent the EU’s continued efforts to increase judicial efficiency and ensure adequate services for all BiH citizens. Both courts are now fully rehabilitated and provide excellent working conditions for employees.
Ambassador Wigemark underlined that this project represents part of the EU programme to support improvements of courthouses and prosecutors’ offices throughout country and that an efficient, independent and professional judiciary is one of the EU objectives in BiH.
“So far, over 20 million euros has been invested in rehabilitation and construction of 13 courts and 7 prosecutors’ offices throughout the country. New archives, new courtrooms, air conditioners, offices for judges and professional associates, altogether represent much better working conditions for the people who work to improve the rule of law in BiH”, said Wigemark and added: “This however is not sufficient to ensure rule of law. This is just an infrastructure, and now it needs to be filled with content, and that is the job of the judiciary. So, I invite judges, prosecutors and other staff to work professionally and independently in the service of all citizens.”
After the official opening of the two Courts, Ambassador Wigemark together with the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council Milan Tegeltija, President of the Basic Court in Banja Luka Milenko Milekić, President of the District Court in Banja Luka Marija Aničić-Zgonjanin and other guests toured their premises.
The EU-funded project “Construction/reconstruction of Banja Luka Basic and District Court” is a part of wider EU assistance to construction, reconstruction and modernisation of courts and prosecutors’ offices across Bosnia and Herzegovina in support of strengthening the rule of law.
