REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JRGA PROJECT OF THE US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) IN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Assistant Minister for Justice and Public Administration Ljiljana Blagojević met with the representatives of the Judicial Reform and Government Accountability (JRGA) project initiated by USAID in 2011.

JRGA representatives pointed out that the aim of the project was to assist the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration and the High Judicial Council to strengthen the rule of law, independence of Serbian judiciary and judicial administration, to raise public awareness of judicial reforms and to strengthen the capacity of the Serbian government, independent agencies and civil society to recognise and prevent corruption.

Laurence Vetter, who manages the project, pointed out that he was aware of the situation of the Serbian courts and that a comprehensive property assessment of courthouses was made, which included recommendations for their improvement or relocation. This resulted in the procurement of computer equipment (800 computers and 350 printers) as a precondition for installing new software to manage the cases of all Serbian courts. 

It was agreed that the project would continue to work on improving the working conditions of magistrate courts through investment in the refurbishment and procurement of equipment, direct assistance to upgrade the efficiency of courts, their better organisation and collection of court fees and fines on the one hand, and to speed up the reform of legislation and continuous education of judges and staff of magistrate courts, on the other.