Venice Commission Opinion on Judicial Laws: Serbia Awaits Action

The Association of Prosecutors of Serbia, represented by its president Lidija Komlen Nikolić, is closely monitoring the state's response to the Venice Commission's critical opinion on the recent amendments to judicial laws. As reported by N1 Serbia, the association expects decisive action from the government regarding these changes, often referred to as 'Mrdic's laws.' The core of the issue lies in the Venice Commission's assessment that these amendments undermine the autonomy of the public prosecutor's office and the independence of the judiciary.

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Po određenoj retorici i narativu, pre svega ministra pravde (Nenada Vujića) i drugih podržavalaca seta izmena zakona, vidim da se insistira na činjenici da je ovo mišljenje koje je Srbija dobila, jeste izrada par eksperata koji su bili u Beogradu, i da se čeka finalno usvajanje na plenarnoj sednici Venecijanske komisije (u junu)

Despite attempts by the Minister of Justice and other proponents of the amendments to characterize the Venice Commission's opinion as merely the view of a few experts who visited Belgrade, Komlen Nikolić stressed that this is a misrepresentation. She clarified that the experts were acting on behalf of the Venice Commission, and their findings, presented to the parliamentary speaker, constitute an official document. The association anticipates that the final adoption of this opinion at the Venice Commission's plenary session in June will solidify its authority, making any attempt to dismiss it as a preliminary or non-binding view futile.

The association also notes the formation of a working group by the Ministry of Justice to address the proposed changes. However, concerns remain about the group's capacity and the direction of its work. Komlen Nikolić suggested that, based on the Venice Commission's opinion, the working group's task should be straightforward, potentially requiring only one or two meetings. The subsequent public discussions and the eventual adoption of recommendations raise questions about the timeline for implementing any necessary changes, a process that could be protracted.

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To je pokušaj relativizacije, ti eksperti nastupaju ispred Venecijanske komisije. Oni su i došli u Srbiju na poziv predsednice parlamenta (Ane Brnabić). Nesporno je da je to dokument Venecijanske komisije

Komlen Nikolić highlighted that representatives from the Association of Prosecutors, along with other legal professionals and civil society members, had previously anticipated the Venice Commission's critical stance. They had voiced strong objections to the amendments during their adoption, arguing that they contained flawed provisions. The Venice Commission's opinion, therefore, validates the concerns raised by the Serbian judiciary and civil society, reinforcing the call for a more robust and independent judicial system, free from undue political influence.

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Bukvalno je rečeno sve ono na čemu smo mi insistirali u javnosti, u pogledu loših rešenja koja su se našla u setu izmena pravosudnih zakona