13.01.2017.

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The rule of law must not be a checked box on a piece of paper

In 2016, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) contributed to the regional mechanism for democracy and the rule of law in Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, through the implementation of reforms contained in Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, and Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security. In association with ...

In 2016, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) contributed to the regional mechanism for democracy and the rule of law in Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, through the implementation of reforms contained in Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, and Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom and Security.

In association with the European fond for Balkans (EFB) and civil society organisations from Macedonia (European Policy Institute) and Montenegro (Institute Alternative) a joint framework for the assessment of regional priority issues in democracy and the rule of law was developed through the project Monitoring and evaluating the rule of law in Western Balkans, as well as policy options to be advocated to the national and international stakeholders.

Besides that, publications on the state of rule of law in Serbia, as well as a comparative analysis of the rule of law in the Western Balkans region which encompasses the three said countires, were published within the project.

Common problems shown in the research:

  • a transfer of bad instead of best practices among the countries
  • mimicry of reforms instead of disentangling party from the dtate
  • the use of similar methods by the authorities in controlling the media and dealing with critics and opposition
  • a continuous trend of stagnation or backsliding in fundamental rights
  • cooperation between the Government and civil society slid backwards
  • despite the lower numbers of overdue cases, there is no advance in judicial independence
  • the low trust in elections
“The rule of law is crucial for the Western Balkans region, not only because of the continuation of EU integration process, but first and foremost because of the need to protect the rights of citizens through institution building and further democratisation of these countries. But, instead of progress, the results of the research show that these areas have somewhat regressed in the previous period”, says BCSP resercher Bojan Elek, adding that the state of play in key areas is now worse than it was a year before.

For all furhter questions regarding the project the findings of the research, please conatct BCSP reasercher Bojan Elek on the following phone number +381 (0) 646479103, or via email bojan.elek@bezbednost.org.

The following publications were produced during project implementation:

 

 

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