Helsinki Committee: BiH made no progress in judicial reform for second consecutive year

The new Law on the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council and the Law on Courts of BiH have yet to be adopted, and the Helsinki Committee believes that the authorities are responsible for the deadlock because they have failed to meet their commitments.

Citizens are paying the price for this stalemate, the Committee said, while the judicial system is not functioning effectively and its independence remains unsecured. It also warned that high-level corruption is undermining the economy and public trust in institutions.

The Helsinki Committee also highlighted threats against journalists, saying they jeopardize the public’s right to know how the authorities spend public funds, while pressure on civil society activists restricts citizens' rights to associate, speak and act freely.

It called on the Council of Ministers of BiH and the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to publicly explain why the laws have not yet been adopted and identify who is responsible for each outstanding step, as well as the deadlines for completing it.

The Helsinki Committee stressed that active partnership between authorities at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina and civil society is an important prerequisite for accelerating the implementation of European reforms and advancing the country’s progress towards European Union membership.