PROJECT TITLE: BRCKO - Legal Reform in the Brcko District (Phases I-IV)
COUNTRIES: Bosnia and Herzegovina
OVERALL OBJECTIVE: The reinforcement of the Regional Parliament of Brcko and of the administrative mechanisms of the judicial authorities, in order to guarantee transparency and uniformity of the decisions. The projects aimed to ensure the multinational community overcoming with legal security the obstacles that were created by the continuous institutional instability and rules in the region.
ACTIVITIES:
Four consecutive projects aimed at the capacity building of the Assembly of Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina in drafting legislation towards the legislative reform and EU approximation and at the training of Brcko District Councilors.
The four phases included: Brcko I: Legal Reform (2000-2001), Brcko II: Legal Reform (2001-2002), Brcko III: Legal Reform (2002-2003), Brcko IV: Legal Reform (2004-2006).
The project activities included:
- Court administration reform including: a report on state of courts, creation of Independent Prosecutors Office, establishment of Judicial Commission, design of the New Court complex, introduction of a case assignment system;
- The setting up of an office in Brcko and the hiring of local staff;
- Assistance by the EPLC/EPLO experts to the administration employees, clerical assistants and registrars for the administration and organization of every day work;
- Several study visits of Bosnian representatives of the Brcko Parliament to Athens;
- Organization of a study visit of Bosnian jurists and councillors to Luxembourg;
- A study tour of members of the judiciary to the European Court of Human Rights;
- Three training seminars with the participation of representatives of the Regional Parliament concerning the legislative implementation;
- One seminar for the administrative personnel of the tribunals of Brcko on the faster and more efficient handing-over of justice;
- Several seminars in Brcko for Councilors and Members of the Assembly’s Expert Service;
- Developing of manuals including a Code of Conduct and assistance in drafting a Book of Rules.
FUNDING AGENCY: Hellenic Aid, Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
LEADER: EPLC
PARTNERS: Office of the High Representative- North, Law Reform Committee, Brcko District
TIME FRAME: ?2000-2006