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Calendar Updated: October 3, 2017
MDTF Activities > The Round Tables on the Amendments to the Constitution in the Part Related to the Judiciary Held on July 21, 2017 and September 7, 2017 in Belgrade and on September 26, 2017 in Kragujevac

The Round Tables on the Amendments to the Constitution in the Part Related to the Judiciary Held on July 21, 2017 and September 7, 2017 in Belgrade and on September 26, 2017 in Kragujevac

So far, three Round tables were organized within a consultative process with Civil Society regarding the future amendments to the Constitution in the field of judiciary. The Round tables were organized in Belgrade, in the Palace of Serbia, on July 21 and September 7, and in Kragujevac on September 26, by the Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society, with participation of key civil society organizations, representatives of High Judicial Council, State Prosecutorial Council, Supreme Court of Cassation, Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office, different Bar associations, as well as the EU Delegation, the OSCE, Council of Europe, USAID and representatives of various embassies.

The first Round table was opened by Ms. Nela Kuburovic, Minister of Justice, Ms. Tanja Miscevic, Chief Negotiator for Serbia’s accession negotiations with the EU and Mr. Zarko Stepanovic, Acting Director of the Office for Cooperation with Civil Society.
 
In the introductory remarks, the Minister of Justice stated that Serbia is facing a serious task and a challenge that we can respond positively only if we realize that future constitutional changes should be a sublimation of different opinions and the result of political and social consensus.
 
Mr. Cedomir Backovic, Assistant Minister of Justice presented the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice regarding the change of the Constitution.
 
Ms. Maja Prelic, MDTF-JSS Consultant for Constitutional Framework, presented the main points of all proposals submitted in response to The Public call published on May 19, 2017 by the Ministry of Justice, as the beginning of a consultative process.
 
The Second Round table was especially devoted to the topic „The Competence of the Holders of the Judicial Functions: The Position and the Role of the Judicial Academy in the Appointment Process, The Continuos Trainig and the Appraisal of the Competence“ while in Kragujevac the focus issue was „The Competences of the High Judicial Council and the State Prosecutorial Council“. All participants took part in the constructive and lively discussion moderated by Mr. Cedomir Backovic, Assistant Minister of Justice.
 

The Round tables served as an opportunity to continue and enhance the on-going process of Constitution reform in Serbia through a comprehensive exchange of opinions of different actors.

Three more round tables in 2017 will be held. Next one will take place in Nis on October 13. On October 30 the round table will be organized in Novi Sad and the final one on  November 15 in Belgrade.