Publications

Annual Monitoring Report 2023 on Anti-Corruption in Bulgaria

On June 25th, the Annual Monitoring Report on Anti-Corruption in Bulgaria was presented at the House of Europe of the European Commission Representation in Sofia. This event was jointly organized by our Rule of Law Programme SE Europe and our partner, the Anti-Corruption Fund Foundation Bulgaria (ACF). For the sixth consecutive year, the report provided a critical analysis of the state of investigation and prosecution of corruption in Bulgaria, identification and sanctioning of conflicts of interest, confiscation of illegally acquired property, as well as the role of state institutions charged with countering corruption. The report highlighted a significant issue: the reduced activity from the Prosecutor General's office has led to no verdicts being issued in 57 high-level corruption cases in Bulgaria. This concerning trend underscores the need for more robust anti-corruption measures and accountability within the judicial system. The presentation brought together esteemed authors and high-level legal professionals who contributed to the report. Among the notable participants were Professor Atanas Slavov - former Minister of Justice and Judge Vladislava Tsarigradska. You can access the Bulgarian version of the Monitoring Report following this link: https://acf.bg/en/godishniyat-monitoringov-doklad-na-akf-5/

IBAR: The Interim Benchmark Assessment Report in the EU Accession Process

The role and significance of the IBAR as a milestone of European integration for Montenegro and other Southeast European states.

On June 25, 2024, the European Commission certified that Montenegro was the first country in the Western Balkans to clear the IBAR hurdle. The “Interim Benchmark Assessment Report”, an interim report on the rule of law, serves as a benchmark for the progress of an EU accession candidate in this area. A positive IBAR is a confirmation of the successful steps taken under negotiation chapters 23 (Justice and Fundamental Rights) and 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) of the accession procedure and points the way for further reforms. The decision was perceived in Montenegro as a positive signal from Brussels and generally as a sign of the EU's growing willingness to accept new members. However, some experts expressed concerns about the standards applied in the reporting process and called for further reforms. But what does the IBAR mean for a country's future path into the EU? This report looks at its relevance in the EU accession process of the candidate countries Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and specifically Montenegro.

Study visit of young Bosnian lawyers to Berlin

Between the 13th and 17th of May, 2024, a group of young Bosnian lawyers, participants from the "Leaders for Justice" Program for Bosnia and Herzegovina, took a deep dive into the German justice system.

"Leaders for Justice" participants on a study trip to Berlin

Over the course of six days in May 2024, the 4th generation of "Leaders for Justice" program participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, will gain first-hand exposure to Germany's judicial system, legal education, law enforcement, and historical path to transitional justice.

"Leaders for Justice" Program Bosnia and Herzegovina

Call for Application

The program is seeking passionate young Bosnian change-makers, up to age 30, with at least an undergraduate law degree from an accredited university in BiH or abroad, to join an intensive leadership development journey. For further information and application forms please visit: https://pravnik-online.info/prijavi-se-sada/

UN-Gericht zur Rolle Serbiens bei Kriegsverbrechen in Bosnien und Herzegowina

Abschluss der rechtlichen Aufarbeitung und mögliche Konsequenzen

Der Internationale Residualmechanismus für die Ad-hoc-Strafgerichtshöfe (IRMCT1) in Den Haag hat am 31. Mai 2023 die letzte Entscheidung im Zusammenhang mit jugoslawischen Kriegsverbrechen gefällt. Das Urteil ist aus zwei Gründen von Bedeutung: Erstens stellt das Gericht in diesem Urteil fest, dass Serbien entgegen der jahrelangen Leugnung durch offizielle Stellen in die Verbrechen während des Jugoslawienkriegs in Bosnien unmittelbar involviert war. Zweitens markiert dieses Urteil das Ende der Gerichtsverfahren vor internationalen Strafgerichten, die sich mit Kriegsverbrechen und der Frage der Verantwortung für Kriegsverbrechen auf dem Boden des ehemaligen Jugoslawiens befassen. Damit eröffnet es den Opfern potenzielle Klagemöglichkeiten wegen Wiedergutmachung.

Rechtsstaatsentwicklungen im Überblick: Turbulentes Wahljahr in Bosnien und Herzegowina

Rettungsversuche des gestörten Rechtssystems und wesentliche Entscheidungen des Hohen Repräsentanten Christian Schmidt

Bosnien und Herzegowina (BiH) durchlebt seit Mitte 2021 eine tiefe verfassungsrechtliche und politische Krise. Nachdem 2021 mehrere Entscheidungen des Verfassungsgerichts von BiH (VerfG BiH) und eine wichtige Entscheidung des Hohen Repräsentanten für BiH (HR BiH) zur Frage des Staatseigentums und der Kompetenzen des Staates BiH ergangen waren, hat es auf der gesamtstaatlichen Ebene keine nennenswerte gesetzgeberische Aktivität gegeben. Damit sind das Parlament und die Regierung von BiH ihren gesetzlichen Aufgaben nicht nachgekommen und haben faktisch weiter an Bedeutung verloren. Die Schwächung des Zentralstaates nützt indessen den Sezessionisten in BiH, die den Staat zunehmend destabilisieren. Das VerfG BiH und der HR mussten im Jahr 2022 mehrere bedeutende Entscheidungen treffen. Diese Entscheidungen und die unter diesen schwierigen Rahmenbedingungen am 2. Oktober 2022 erfolgreich abgehaltenen Wahlen lassen hoffen, dass die Organe des Gesamtstaates gefestigt werden. Die Verleihung des Status eines EU-Beitrittskandidaten am 15.12.2022 könnte zudem zum Momentum für eine dringend notwendige Verbesserung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit in BiH werden.

Handbook on the Rights of Religious Communities and the Freedom of Religion in North Macedonia

This publication provides a detailed contribution to clarification and education about religious freedom and religious communities in North Macedonia. It not only shows how the relationship between the state and religion is structured and which (constitutional) legal provisions exist to protect religious freedom and religious communities, but also how these provisions are interpreted by the courts and ultimately implemented by state institutions.

Covid-19 and the impact on human rights. Overview of the relevant case law of ECtHR

Within a project implemented with CivilRightsDefenders and TheAIRECentre, as well as the Bulgarian, Romanian and Moldovan Justice Academies, we have translated into Romanian and Bulgarian and published the guide “Covid-19 and the impact on human rights. Overview of the relevant case law of ECtHR " We hope it will be a useful resource for courts in finding a fair balance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for non-governmental organizations working with individuals whose rights and freedoms have been affected.

The Rule of Law as the Victim

Social (Dis-)Trust and the Plague of Corruption in the Western Balkans

The Western Balkans societies are flooded with corruption which negatively impacts rule of law. The causes of corruption are diverse, but this research done by our colleague Dr. sc. Mahir Muharemovic, focuses on the question of social (dis)trust as a possible cause in the Western Balkans. One of the main findings is a very strong correlation between social (dis)trust, corruption and the deterioration of rule of law in the Western Balkans.