The annual conference of the chief prosecutors in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in Teslić, organized by the HJPC of BiH with the support of the OSCE Mission, where the results of the work of the prosecutor’s offices for the year 2025 were analyzed and key conclusions were adopted to improve efficiency and public trust.
At the conference of chief prosecutors in Teslić, organized by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH) with the financial support of the OSCE Mission to BiH, members of the HJPC BiH, chief prosecutors, representatives of the executive power, the international community, professional associations and civil society organizations gathered.
The focus of the meeting was on the analysis of the results of the work of the prosecutor’s offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the year 2025, from the perspective of the state, entity levels and Brčko District of BiH. The Report of the OSCE/EU in BiH on the monitoring of trials in the countries of the Western Balkans in cases of organized crime and corruption was presented, as well as the Strategy for the Security of the Judiciary in BiH for the period 2025 – 2030. A panel discussion was held on the application of the provisions of the Criminal Code related to the denial of genocide and war crimes, the glorification of war criminals and other forms of incitement to hatred, and challenges and results in the processing of war crimes cases, especially KTNRZ and KTARZ cases, were presented.
The President of the HJPC of BiH, Sanin Bogunić, reminded of the most important activities that the HJPC of BiH undertook in order to make prosecutors’ offices more efficient and of better quality in the service of citizens. He pointed out that the HJPC of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Guidelines for the review and control of prosecutor’s decisions, assessing that this is a significant systemic step forward in strengthening the professional standards, responsibility and transparency of prosecutor’s offices throughout the country.
According to him, their application further improves the quality of decision-making, system coordination and continuous improvement of practice, confirming the judicial system’s commitment to the principles of legality, responsibility and efficiency, and strengthening the ability of prosecution offices to act professionally and impartially.
The legal advisor of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Velimir Delovski, addressed the participants on behalf of the Mission and emphasized that the Mission continues to be a reliable partner, providing support to the HJPC in preserving the independence of the judiciary and its greater efficiency, responsibility and transparency.
In the continuation of the conference, conclusions were adopted on the further work of the prosecutor’s offices. It was established that statistical indicators on the work of prosecutor’s offices indicate significant improvements in efficiency, especially in terms of achieved prosecutorial standards, handling of influx, number of resolved cases and indictments. At the same time, it was emphasized that the average duration of the proceedings still represents a challenge, which is why the chief prosecutors and prosecutors are requested to engage in additional work in order to shorten the duration of the proceedings and ensure the parties’ right to a trial within a reasonable time.
It was also pointed out that in the observed period there is a growing trend in the number of old unresolved cases, although in 2025 the highest percentage of realization of plans for their resolution was recorded. This category of cases still requires a continuous and systematic approach, with the obligation of chief prosecutors to monitor the development and implementation of plans, especially taking into account that cases are planned for resolution according to the age of the initial act and that additional measures are taken in prosecution offices with the largest increase in the number of old cases.
Work on cases of corruption and organized crime has been confirmed as a priority in the work of all prosecutor’s offices. The need for continuous, intensive and high-quality cooperation with police agencies, proactive actions of prosecutors and improvement of the criminal-intelligence approach, with the aim of better results and a greater number of confirmed indictments, especially in cases of high corruption, was emphasized.
The conference also pointed out that the filling of prosecutor’s positions and general personnel capacities directly affect the efficiency of the work of prosecutor’s offices, so the necessity of filling them in a timely manner was emphasized.
The chief prosecutors of the prosecution offices in which there are cases formed on the basis of knowledge from Sky/Anom applications are obliged to ensure active monitoring and coordination of work on those cases, review all pending cases that may be related to these applications and obtain relevant information and evidence in a timely and efficient manner, especially bearing in mind the deadline of December 1, 2026 set by the competent authorities of the Republic of France.
Special emphasis was placed on the need to proactively and transparently inform the public about the results of the work of the prosecution offices, in order to improve citizens’ trust and improve the overall perception of the work of the judiciary. The participants recalled that with the adoption of the Guidelines for the review and control of prosecutorial decisions of the HJPC of BiH, an improved normative framework was established aimed at standardizing practices, strengthening accountability and eliminating perceived systemic weaknesses, and that their consistent application is key to the legality and quality of prosecutorial decisions.
Among the conclusions is the need for a strategic and proactive approach to the implementation of financial investigations and confiscation of illegally acquired assets in cases of organized crime and corruption, because the sporadic application of temporary, permanent and extended confiscation measures does not meet the goal of deterrence.
The HJPC of BiH also indicated the necessity of intensifying the work on cases of KTNRZ and KTARZ, as well as the consistent application of acts, decisions and conclusions of the HJPC of BiH and the Supervisory Authority for monitoring the implementation of the Revised State Strategy for work on war crimes cases.
The conference participants welcomed the adoption of the Strategy for Judicial Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2025 – 2030 and the accompanying Action Plan, evaluating them as key documents for improving the security and integrity of the judicial system. They emphasized the need for timely, coordinated and consistent implementation at all levels in BiH, as well as the importance of continuous and effective cooperation of all competent institutions, with the provision of adequate financial, technical and human capacities, and the establishment of functional mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and evaluating the implementation of the Strategy.
