On 23 November 2020, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina digitally presented its third report on the monitoring of corruption cases before courts in BiH under the title “Third Annual Report on Judicial Response to Corruption: The Impunity Syndrome” developed within the framework of the project “Assessing Needs of Judicial Response to Corruption through Monitoring of Criminal Cases” supported by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
This report is a continuation of the work of the OSCE on the topic presented in its two previous reports published in February 2018 and April 2019. The third report assesses the effectiveness of the judicial response to corruption in 2019 based on trial monitoring of 302 corruption cases before 45 courts across BiH. With the aim of improving the processing of corruption cases in BiH, it follows up on the 24 recommendations issued in the previous OSCE reports and proposes adequate and feasible measures to address the identified issues.
The report’s findings reveal shortcomings of the criminal justice system resulting in de facto impunity for the perpetrators of serious criminal offenses. The report assesses the effectiveness of judicial response to corruption in 2019, based on the trial monitoring of 302 corruption cases, tried in 45 courts across Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also follows up on the 24 recommendations from the previous reports with the aim to improve the processing of corruption cases in BiH.
Re-establishing integrity, accountability and impartiality within the judiciary is deemed a necessary precondition for a more effective judicial response to corruption. The need for increased transparency in the judicial process has been noted as well.
These are all part of an all-encompassing process of ensuring integrity, accountability and transparency of all public office holders which is key to rebuilding public trust in the system and its institutions of which the citizens of BiH are the ultimate beneficiaries.
The project EU4Justice: “Support to the Fight against Organised Crime and Corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina” brings the EU expertise and specific experience and knowhow with the aim to contribute to improving the effectiveness, integrity and professionalism of institutions in the entire Rule of Law sector in BiH. It is aimed at enhancing cooperation within the entire criminal justice chain, including between prosecutors’ offices, courts and law enforcement agencies, in order to increase the efficiency of investigations in organised crime and corruption cases for a more effective response to serious crime. With that in mind, the EU4Justice Project provides capacity building, strategical advice and training services to BiH institutions leading to long-term effects and sustainable solutions for the benefit of all BiH citizens.
