The Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković met today with the Delegation of the Committee on EU Enlargement of the Council of European Union (COELA), which was an occasion to discuss the activities of the Ministry of Justice, on which progress of Serbia on the road to the EU depends.
Minister Selaković emphasized that the judiciary is one of the most complex and difficult sectors, although over the past two years essential steps were made for the improvement of the rule of law, which was also recognized as of the utmost importance by the European Commission as well.
He stated that Serbia adopted National Strategies on judicial reform 2013-2018 and fight against corruption, together wit the respective Action Plans for the implementation of the strategies. Selaković mentioned that thanks to these strategies and their action plans, drafted by the Ministry together with the experts from the EU, Draft Action Plan for negotiations concerning Chapter 23 was completed and submitted to the European Commission. Selaković added that he believes that the final Action Plan will be completed in the next two months, although it does not mean that work is done, on the contrary, consistent and committed implementation of the plan is necessary.
During the talks Selaković mentioned that the activities of the Ministry have been strongly oriented toward three basic pillars of which Chapter 23 consists - building efficient and independent judiciary, fight against corruption and strengthening the role of civil society for the improved respect of human rights.
The Ambassador of Italy to Serbia, Giuseppe Manza, said that the establishment of the rule of the law is the priority of any modern and democratic state and that Serbia has progressed in that sphere by adopting certain laws and strategies. He pointed out that the next important step for Serbia is the implementation of these laws.
The representatives of the Committee emphasized that Chapter 23 is of key importance for the negotiations with the EU, and that a lot of hard work is ahead of Serbia on its road toward European integration, as well as numerous challenges it will face.