At the 8th Subcommittee Meeting on Justice, Freedom, and Security in Brussels held on December 10-11, the European Commission noted some progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina's justice reforms but urged accelerated efforts.

Key priorities include implementing amendments to the Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC), adopting new laws on the HJPC and BiH courts, and finalizing a Justice Sector Reform Strategy. Authorities must also enhance war crimes case handling and align criminal records with ICTY judgments.

The Commission welcomed the Agreement on Judicial Cooperation with Eurojust, emphasizing its role in combating corruption and organized crime. Authorities were urged to swiftly adopt a new Personal Data Protection Law and ensure the agreement’s implementation.

Discussions addressed gender-based violence prevention, victim support, and inclusion of vulnerable groups such as Roma, LGBTI individuals, and children. Other topics included revising the Sejdic-Finci Action Plan and improving mechanisms against torture and abuse.

Concerns over media freedom and journalist protection were raised, with calls to decriminalize defamation, modernize public broadcasting laws, and strengthen press ownership transparency. The Commission also emphasized the importance of adopting a strategic framework for civil society cooperation.

Progress in combating organized crime was noted, including the adoption of anti-money laundering laws and strengthened Europol cooperation. However, authorities must amend the Criminal Code to include terrorism-related sanctions and improve proactive information-sharing.

On migration, improvements were acknowledged, but further enhancements in border control and management of reception centres are needed. The Commission also highlighted the importance of aligning BiH's visa policy with EU standards.