The Protocol on Cooperation in Applying Mediation between the High and the Basic Court in Niš and the Bar Association of Niš was signed today in the presence of Justice Minister Nela Kuburović. As the Minister noted on the occasion, a greater application of mediation meant fewer court cases and the unburdening of the courts so that the courts could focus on non-mediation cases. “One of the Justice Ministry’s strategic goals is to promote alternative dispute resolution. That mediation is important is supported by the fact that the Ministry has registered over 950 mediators so far, the majority of whom had been attorneys-at-law“, Kuburović stated, stressing that the Protocol signed today was to advance mediation in the Basic and the High Courts in Niš.

The Minister commended the two courts in Niš for being the first to proactively promote mediation, to sign protocols with public utility companies, and for setting a good example of how mediation could be used for the rest of the courts in Serbia. “Here we have had the first case of an employment dispute settlement through mediation which shows that mediation can certainly be successful and cost less than a court proceeding. Thus, everyone should do their best to promote mediation and refer disputed parties to mediators, so they may avoid filing claims with the courts“, Minister Kuburović highlighted.

The Minister noted that in December 2018, the Ministry of Justice had formed a Working Group for Amendments to the Mediation in Dispute Resolution Act with the objective of finding suitable mechanisms with which it would establish an efficient and a sustainable system of dispute resolution through mediation in approximation to European and international standards. She added that the Amendments to the Court Fees Act - which encouraged parties to resolve their disputes through mediation or another amicable way – had entered into force on 1 January 2019. She explained that the collection of court fees was postponed so to allow disputed parties to reconsider resolving their disputes amicably even after the court proceeding had been initiated. Should the parties settle their dispute amicably before the conclusion of the first court hearing or the out-of-court settlement, or the acceptance or withdrawal of the claim, they will be exempted from paying all court fees.

The Protocol on Cooperation in Applying Mediation was signed by President of the Basic Court in Niš Goran Spasić, President of the High Court in Niš Zoran Krstić, and President of the Bar Association of Niš Gordan Pantić.