Today, the second preparatory meeting of the Panel for Harmonizing Case Law was held at the premises of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting was used to align topics from criminal, civil, and administrative law to be discussed at the Panel meetings during 2025, with the dates of those meetings also being agreed upon, thus ensuring a clear framework for further harmonization of case law across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The goal of this process is to ensure consistent and equal application of the law across the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In addition to representatives from HJPC BiH and the EU Delegation, the meeting was attended by the Presidents of the Supreme Court of the Federation of BiH, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Srpska, as well as judges from the entity supreme courts, the Court of BiH, and the Appellate Court of Brčko District of BiH, who also serve as heads of judicial departments.

Enrico Visentin, Program Manager at the EU Delegation to BiH, expressed satisfaction with the successful implementation of the new concept of the Panel's work for harmonizing case law by the HJPC BiH and the highest-instance courts, which will significantly contribute to improved efficiency and coordination in the process of harmonizing case law across BiH. This process is crucial for ensuring legal certainty and equality of citizens before the law.

The implementation of this meeting represents a continuation of activities outlined in the Cooperation Protocol signed by HJPC BiH and the highest-instance courts in December 2023. By signing this Protocol, the highest-instance courts have undertaken the obligation to work together on systematizing, harmonizing, and improving the accessibility of case law, which will ensure greater legality, legal certainty, and contribute to strengthening citizens' trust in the judiciary.

As a result of the new working concept, partner courts have harmonized five legal opinions, initiated one legislative initiative, and proposed two topics for further training of judges and prosecutors.

Sanela Gorušanović-Butigan, Vice President of the HJPC BiH, emphasized that the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH remains a key partner to the courts in the work of the Panel, providing the necessary coordination and professional support. She stated that this cooperation, successfully tested during the previous year, will be further enhanced through amendments to the Panel's Rules of Procedure, ensuring more efficient implementation of its goals.

The harmonization of case law is essential for strengthening the rule of law, which is one of the key conditions for Bosnia and Herzegovina's progress on its path to the European Union. The meeting was supported by funds from the “EU Support to Justice Reform in BiH” project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the HJPC BiH.