First Report on Implementation of the Action Plan for Chapter 23
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Republic of Serbia Council for the implementation of the Action plan for Chapter 23 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ COUNCIL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN FOR CHAPTER 23 FIRST REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN FOR CHAPTER 23 (for activities planned due for II quarter of 2016) Introductory note The Government of the Republic of Serbia established the Council for the implementation of the Action Plan for Chapter 23 on 11th December 2015, as a special working body of the Government for the expert support to the Negotiating Group for Chapter 23. The Council for the implementation of the Action Plan for the negotiations for Chapter 23 shall monitor the implementation of the activities envisaged in the Action Plan on a daily basis, anticipate and instigate early warning mechanism in case of delays and other problems in the implementation of the Action Plan and coordinate the reporting process. The Council shall submit monthly reports on the implementation of the Action Plan to the Head of the Negotiating team for negotiations for accession of the Republic of Serbia to European Union, President of the Negotiating Group on Chapter 23 and the Coordination Body Council. In order to prepare the effective functioning of the monitoring mechanism, the Council organized a pilot reporting cycle in the end of 2015, in order to identify potential problems in the reporting process. The Council subsequently organized training for focal points from all institutions responsible for implementation of the AP Ch23, focusing in particular on the conclusions arising from the pilot reporting. For the purposes of the first reporting cycle, following the training session, the Council developed and delivered to all institutions the following documents: Guidelines for development of the reports, forms for reporting in Serbian and English language, as well as the final text of the Action Plan for Ch23 which was adopted by the RS Government on 27th April 2016. The first official cycle of reporting was performed in the period from 9 to 27 May 2016. The Council for monitoring the implementation of the Action plan for Ch23 has organized public 1 Nemanjina 22-26, 11000 Belgrade [email protected] https://twitter.com/SavetPg23 Republic of Serbia Council for the implementation of the Action plan for Chapter 23 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ presentation of the final Report for the representatives of state institutions, the media, civil society and international organizations on July 1st 2016. The First Report of the Council shall include the following: 1. Detailed report on implementation of the activities due for II quarter of 2016 (Serbian/English version) 2. Action plan for Ch23 with a special column including brief description of the status of implementation (Serbian/English version) 3. Statistical review of the status of implementation of the Action plan for Ch23 (Serbian/English version) on several levels: -implementation of the activities in entire Chapter -implementation of the activities in each Subchapter -implementation of the activities per each institution JUDICIARY 1.1. INDEPENDENCE 1.1.1.1. Conduct analysis of provisions of the Constitution and proposing amendments to the Constitution taking into account opinion of Venice Commission and European standards. (IV quarter of 2015) Activity is fully implemented. The working group for the analyses of current constitutional framework dealing with judiciary submitted the Analyses. 1.1.3.2. Adoption of the Rules on criteria, standards and procedures for evaluation of judicial assistants. (III quarter of 2016) Activity is fully implemented. The activity was implemented ahead of schedule. At the session held on 29 March 2016, the High Judicial Council adopted the Rulebook on criteria, standards, procedures and authorities for the assessment of the work of judicial assistants. The Rulebook were published in the ,,Official Gazette RS", No. 32/16, came into force eight days after its publication, and will be implemented as of 1st June 2016. 1.1.3.3. Council makes decisions on election, promotion and dismissal of holders of judicial offices, according to the new criteria from: (Commencing from I quarter of 2016) 2 Nemanjina 22-26, 11000 Belgrade [email protected] https://twitter.com/SavetPg23 Republic of Serbia Council for the implementation of the Action plan for Chapter 23 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Activity is being implemented successfully. a) Rules on criteria and standards for evaluation of qualification, competence and worthiness for election of judges and court presidents (Rules for election); Implementation of this activity is in progress. After the entry into force of the amendments to the Law on Judges (,,Official Gazette RS ", No. 106/15) High Judicial Council at its session held on 12 April 2016 brought a decision on the establishment of the Working Group for drafting the Rulebook on the criteria and standards for the assessment of qualifications, competences and worthiness for nomination of candidates for the first election to judicial office, the election of judges to other court or higher court and for the nomination of candidates for the election of court presidents and for drafting the Rulebook on the program and manner of taking the exam for the assessment of competences and qualifications for a candidate for the first election to judicial office. We are in the process of consultations with all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of these activities (Judicial Academy, judicial assistants associations). b) Rules on criteria, standards and procedures for evaluation of judicial assistants. The HJC is obliged to fulfill this activity within 60 days from adoption of the amendments to the Law on organization of courts (adopted on December 18th 2015). At the session held on 29 March 2016, the High Judicial Council adopted the Rulebook on criteria, standards, procedures and authorities for the assessment of the work of judicial assistants. The Rulebook were published in the “Official Gazette RS", No. 32/16, came into force eight days after its publication, and will be implemented as of 1st June 2016. c) The Rulebook for evaluation of judges and court presidents (appraisal rules); High Judicial Council formed commission for evaluation of work of judges and court presidents, with task to determine period of evaluation for each court, and to monitor process of evaluation performed by the commission formed by the High judicial council, after a public invitation. Part of internet site of High judicial council is dedicated to process of evaluation of judges and court presidents, so all necessary information is available to judges and court presidents. At the session held on 29 March 2016, the High Judicial Council passed a decision on the establishment of evaluation commissions in order to carry on the evaluation procedure for judges who had been elected to a three year tenure. 3 Nemanjina 22-26, 11000 Belgrade [email protected] https://twitter.com/SavetPg23 Republic of Serbia Council for the implementation of the Action plan for Chapter 23 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The High Judicial Council Evaluation Commission on 28 April 2016 passed a decision on the commencement of the evaluation process for judges whose three year tenure is going to elapse. The High Judicial Council is continuously publishing on its website www.vss.sud.rs information on the promotion of the importance of evaluation of the work of judges and its impact on career development. 1.1.3.4. The High Judicial Council monitors the results of implementation of judicial laws that are currently on the force as well as future judicial laws that is going to be adopted after constitutional changes. (Continuously commencing from II quarter of 2015) Activity is being implemented successfully. High Judicial Council monitors application of judicial laws, for changes of the laws to ministry in charge of judiciary, and provides opinions on law drafts. Members of the High judicial council are members of the workgroups for preparation of the draft of the laws. 1.1.3.5. The State Prosecutorial Council makes decisions on promotion, election and termination of prosecutorial position, implementing new criteria from: (Commencing from II quarter of 2015) Activity is being implemented successfully. а) the Rulebook on criteria and standards for evaluation of qualification, competence and worthiness of a candidate when proposing and electing to prosecutorial position (the Election rules), By publishing detailed information at its web page and forwarding of it to all public prosecution offices, the State Prosecutorial Council takes care on promotion of importance of performance evaluation of public prosecutors and deputy public prosecutors and its influence to promotion in the career. (as of the second quarter of 2015) In the first quarter of 2015, the working group for drafting of the Rulebook on criteria and standards for evaluation of qualification, competence and worthiness of a candidate during the procedure of proposing and electing bearers of prosecutorial position was having a series of meetings, after which draft of the Rulebook was translated, and forwarded for the second time to the European Commission, more precisely to the Directorate for Enlargement and to the