Deputy Speaker Arsic said that Serbia is working on developing its institutions’ capacities, which need to operate independently and autonomously, along European Union standards. He said that the bilateral relations between Serbia and Slovenia are following an upward trend as evidenced by the recent joint session of the two countries’ governments. Arsic informed the guests about the reform processes of the judiciary and the prosecutorial system, which Serbia has been implementing since 2001, but which have yet to meet all expectations.

“After 2012, the reform has been mindful not to impinge on the independence and autonomy of the bearers of judiciary and prosecutorial office. Serbia is soon to tackle amendments to the Constitution to adjust in to European norms, which means we are to have a new judiciary reform. Prosecutors, no matter what their level of prosecutorial office, operate independently from the executive power, but are accountable for their work to the National Assembly”, said Arsic.

Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government Petar Petrovic informed the Slovenian State Prosecutor General about the Committee’s scope of authority, especially in the part concerning the election procedure for deputy public prosecutors and the Committee’s cooperation with the State Prosecutorial Council, High Judicial Council and the Republic Public Prosecutor. Petrovic stressed that the State Prosecutorial Council makes sure that candidates nominated for prosecutorial office are professionals who had started their working careers in a prosecutor’s office. He opined that any help Slovenia can provide Serbia on the path to the EU, especially after the opening of chapters 23 and 24, is invaluable.

Slovenian State Prosecutor General Dr Zvonko Fiser said that the objective of the visit to Serbia is to learn about its judiciary and prosecutorial system i.e. the situation and operation of the courts and prosecutor’s offices in Serbia. Speaking of the status of prosecution in the system of power, Fiser opined that it is important to strive for a global interest i.e. the establishment of the judiciary as the third branch of power, with a special place for prosecution in it. He also said that the prosecutors’ expertise should be a special focus of attention because this is an expert office and an accountable one, and the procedure to assume office is crucial.

The officials also discussed the election procedure for prosecutors in Slovenia and Serbia, procedures for transference from judge to prosecutor and vice versa, and special training for prosecutors as regards combating corruption and business crime.

The delegation of the Slovenian Office of the State Prosecutor General also comprised Mirko Vrtacnik, Deputy State Prosecutor General, and Bostjan Skrlec, Director General of the Office of the State Prosecutor General, and the meeting was also attended by Tomo Zoric, Secretary of the High Judicial Council.