EU Resources for Judiciary Still on Standby
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While waiting for the payment, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and state-level judicial institutions have solved the funding shortage by securing temporary financing.
However, the shortage still hasn’t been solved in Republika Srpska, which means that four district judges, seven district prosecutors, a republic prosecutor and other staff have gone unpaid for the past nine months. There are also no funds to cover the costs of witnesses testifying in war crime trials.
BIRN has found out that these employees continue to do their jobs and have ensured that trials take place according to schedule, although they’ve failed to receive their salaries.
According to the Delegation of the European Union, the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted an assessment indicating that the conditions justifying the second instalment of resources had been met.
“The necessary analytic and technical steps, which have been undertaken by European Commission services, are underway. The funds will be transferred to the treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina only after those steps have been completed,” said Jamila Milovic-Halilovic, spokesperson of the Delegation and the EU Special Representative.
The failure to adopt the Strategic Framework for the Reform of Judicial Sector was the reason why the payment of the second instalment of EU funding was halted. Following the adoption of the strategic framework on September 8, 2015, the European Union said it would unfreeze those funds.
Cantonal governments in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina have secured temporary funds for staff working at courts and prosecutions. The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina has also solved its funding shortage.
The total amount allocated by the European Union to support the processing of war crimes is 14.86 million euros, to be distributed over the course of a five-year period.
