European Union Stops Funding for War Crimes Prosecutions
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The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC) stated on Monday that the EU delegation told the Steering Board in charge of overseeing the implementation of the Bosnian War Crimes Prosecution Strategy that it has stopped the second installment of funding.
“Because of unfulfilled conditions for the payment of the second tranche, the continued prosecution of war crimes cases has been brought into question, since judicial institutions cannot pay employees hired through this project and ensure that there is adequate funding for solving cases,” the HJPC said.
The European Union has budgeted 14.8 million Euros through IPA funding for 2012 and 2013 to support courts and prosecutions, in order to ensure more efficient prosecution of war crimes cases between 2014 and 2018.
The funding has gone to 16 prosecutions and six courts. In total, twenty prosecutors, seven judges, 115 advisors, and associated and administrative staff were hired as a result.
The European Union Delegation has issued a statement claiming that even after the Justice Sector Reform Strategy is adopted, several weeks will be required in order to ensure internal procedures have been followed before the second installment is delivered.
