The Head of the EU Delegation and the EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Johann Sattler, and the President of the Basic Court in Prnjavor, Dragan Ivić, today officially opened the renovated building of the Basic Court in Prnjavor. The premises of this Court, located in a building from 1964, were completely renovated with the financial assistance of the European Union worth more than 300,000 euros.
Ambassador Sattler emphasized that the rule of law is the foundation of every democratic society and the basic value of the European Union. “I am happy that today we are opening the Basic Court in Prnjavor, which is another step in our long-term support for the judicial system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The judiciary is the alpha and omega of the European integration process. Judiciary, the rule of law, judicial institutions are the first thing on the agenda when the country opens negotiations, and the last thing when they are closed. It is precisely for this reason that the EU, for its part, invests significantly in the area of the rule of law and strengthening institutions”.
The President of the Basic Court in Prnjavor, Dragan Ivić, said that the completion of the court building renovation project, along with improving efficiency, will be of great importance to the citizens. “This court adjusted its systematization in accordance with the recommendations and formed a special department, we plan to hire new officers in the said department who will assist judges in their work, all with the aim of making the court more up-to-date, making better decisions, faster access to justice for the citizens of BiH, and reducing costs court proceedings”.
The support of the European Union is part of the comprehensive and continuous support for the improvement of the working environment and security of the facilities of judicial institutions. The reconstruction of the Basic Court in Prnjavor is one of 32 courts and prosecutor’s offices in 17 cities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina that have been constructed or reconstructed by the European Union with the aim of increasing the efficiency of the judiciary and ensuring adequate services to the citizens of BiH.
In addition to measures to support judicial reform, the European Union has provided more than 50 million euros in grants for the construction and reconstruction of facilities in the judicial sector, courts, prosecutor’s offices, prisons and detention facilities from 2003 until today.
