CHIEF PROSECUTOR MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EU DELEGATION IN BIH

Some of the topics that were disused at the meeting were International support within the IPA-2, efforts to strengthen the capacities of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH and possible donor assistance in carrying out the necessary activities.

Chief Prosecutor Salihović met with the EU Delegation in BiH team represented by Mr. Holger Schroeder, Mr. Severin Strohal and Ms. Una Kelly.

The IPA project of the European Union, within which the assistance to BiH institutions is provided, was disused at the meeting - particularly the section related to prosecution of war crimes, as well as IPA-2 project, which will be implemented through the 2014-2020 period and which will also include plans to  support judicial institutions with emphasis on the fight against corruption.

The meeting was a continuation of previous discussions on the issues concerning assistance to the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH through projects of the EU Delegation in BiH.

It was pointed out that some of the priorities in the future will be to ensure capacity strengthening, increase in the number of prosecutors and intensified efforts and involvement in the process of tracing and identifying the missing persons.

The possibilities of international donor assistance in the process of strengthening the institution of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH in both human and material resources aiming to improve efficiency in prosecution and strengthen the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina within its European integration path were also discussed.

Chief Prosecutor emphasized that estimates indicate that if the current number of war crimes cases pending in the Prosecutor’s Office was to be resolved, in accordance with international standards, this judicial institutions should employ 240 prosecutors. "We are well aware that we can not get that many, but having 20 new prosecutors would greatly speed up the processing of cases," - stated Salihović.

The need for coordinated efforts of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Court of BiH and consultation in these activities was highlighted at the meeting because the increase of capacities in one institution would be reflected with the increase in the number of cases in both institutions.

It is also important to note that the new Rulebook on Internal organization of the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, which was adopted at the HJPC’s session held on April 19,   2013, provides for increase in the number of investigators and legal officers in the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH aiming accelerate investigations of war crimes cases, which is in line with the recommendations of the structural dialogue on judicial reform between the EU and BiH.

By increasing the number of investigators and legal officers who work together with Prosecutors, the efficiency shall be improved because the investigations require a lot of time and activities in order to just get to the point where a prosecutorial decision can be made.

The Prosecutor’s Office of BiH emphasizes that the planned increase in capacities, and relocation to a new building in which the Prosecutor’s Office will function independently, will greatly contribute to the efficiency in prosecution of war crimes and organized crime.