Working conditions in the Trebinje Courthouse will be improved thanks to the European Union’s contribution of EUR 1.5 million within the wider EU-funded project for reconstruction of 9 judicial institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The reconstruction of the building of the judicial institutions in Trebinje started on 11 April with the presence of the representatives of the EU Delegation to BiH, high judicial officials and representatives of the local community.
President of the District Court Bojan Stević, President of the Basic Court Milan Bosić and Chief Prosecutor Slobodanka Gaćinović stressed that all three judicial institutions in Trebinje were currently operating in poor working conditions and were missing the space, courtrooms, archives, offices and common space for visitors.
They expressed their gratitude because the reconstruction will enhance their services for citizens, improve effectiveness and create excellent conditions for their future functioning.
The Head of Trebinje’s Urban Department Marko Rikalo emphasized the importance of this EU investment in the process of strengthening judicial efficiency in this area.
Elma Prcić Bilić, Programme Manager in the EU Delegation, highlighted that the work of judiciary institutions is directly dependent on working conditions.
“Therefore, IPA 2012, 2015 and 2017 included a strong component on modernization of judiciary buildings and harmonizing standards throughout the country pertaining to conditions for processing complex criminal cases, improving security aspects, providing access for disabled people and supporting victims and witnesses”, Prcić Bilic said.
She added that the Project was result of successful collaboration between the EU Delegation to BiH, Ministry of Justice of Republika Srpska and governments of Sweden and Norway, which financed preparation of the architectural and building design documentation.
The project “The construction of Courthouse in Trebinje” is a part of a wider package of EU efforts in supporting modernization and reconstruction of courts and prosecutors’ offices throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina as one of the ways to support the enhancement of the rule of law in the country. The EU provided over EUR 7.5 million from IPA 2015 for the reconstruction of 9 judicial institutions, which will be implemented in 2018 and 2019.
