Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković met today with the political director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Jan Kickert, to discuss Austria’s support to Serbia in its negotiations with the EU and the assistance that Austria would provide with a view to strengthening Serbia’s judicial capacity.

Minister Selaković thanked Mr. Kickert for his visit, recalling that Austria and Serbia had traditionally good relations and pointing out that many of the achievements of the Austrian legislation were incorporated into the Serbian judicial system.

Mr. Kickert stressed that Austria supported Serbia on its path towards the EU and commended the efforts made by the Serbian Government towards the  normalisation of the relations with Pristina. He pointed out that there was a desire for the Western Balkan countries to “move forward” and that Serbia had a strategic importance in that region.

Selaković and Kickert agreed that, in addition to political support, Serbia would greatly benefit from the exchange of experience and expert support from Austria, especially that relating to judicial reform and improvement of cooperation between judicial institutions of the two countries. Speaking of the accession negotiations and the opening of Chapter 23, Mr. Kickert pointed out that Austria was willing to provide support where it was most needed, but that Serbia had to define and identify the areas requiring support, in accordance with its Action Plan for Chapter 23.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Kickert pointed out that the reform of the judiciary was an ongoing process and that the current situation needed to be constantly evaluated, with a view to improving the judicial system.