PRESS RELEASE – National Convention on the EU
Belgrade, 27 February 2018
PRESS RELEASE
Concerning the published working draft of amendments to the Constitution of Serbia and consultations begun at the invitation of the Ministry of Justice
Members of the National Convention on the EU participating in the Chapter 23 Working Group, together with numerous civil society organisations, call on the Ministry of Justice to withdraw the working draft of amendments to the Constitution as published. The proposed changes will not create an environment conducive to greater judicial independence or prosecutorial autonomy, in the view of both the signatories and numerous professors of constitutional law who took part in a recent public hearing organised by professional associations. Rather than improving upon the inadequate provisions of the Constitution as it stands now, the published amendments are a retrograde step and will allow the Government and political parties to exert much greater and more direct influence on courts and prosecutors’ offices.
We therefore demand that the Government of Serbia consult experts in constitutional law to develop a new legal text, whilst respecting the positions outlined above, permit robust public debate in an environment that ensures respect for all participants, and give due consideration to arguments voiced by the profession and other parties interested in enacting a Constitution of Serbia that lays the foundations for an independent and efficient third branch of government.
Amendments of the Constitution that concern the judiciary do not affect only the position of judges and prosecutors: rather, they have an impact on all members of the public who seek protection of their rights from courts. An independent judiciary, free of executive influence, is in the interests of all private individuals and businesses and safeguards fundamental rights and freedoms, labour rights, property, security, and a multitude of other principles. We expect all political parties that represent the public in Parliament to take part in debate on the proposed amendments, as constitutional reform is a crucial question for the future development of Serbia and the creation of public trust in its institutions.
This letter has been signed by the following members of the Chapter 23 Working Group of the National Convention on the EU:
Belgrade Centre for Human Rights |
Beogradski centar za ljudska prava |
Centre for Democracy Foundation |
Fondacija Centar za demokratiju |
Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM |
Komitet pravnika za ljudska prava JUKOM |
Belgrade Centre for Security Policy |
Beogradski centar za bezbednosnu politiku |
Civic Initiatives |
Građanske inicijative |
Prosecutors’ Association of Serbia |
Udruženje javnih tužilaca i zamenika javnih tužilaca Srbije |
Judges’ Association of Serbia |
Društvo sudija Srbije |
Association of Judicial Associates of Serbia |
Asocijacija pravosudnih savetnika |
CEPRIS |
CEPRIS |
Association of Judicial and Prosecutorial Assistants |
Udruženje sudskih i tužilačkih pomoćnika |
Praxis |
|
Autonomous Women’s Centre |
Autonomni ženski centar – AŽC |
Centre for Regionalism |
Centar za regionalizam |
Bureau for Social Research – BIRODI |
Biro za društvena istraživanja – BIRODI |
Transparency Serbia |
Transparentnost Srbija |
CRTA |
|
Humanitarian Law Centre |
Fond za humanitarno pravo |
Victimology Society of Serbia |
Viktimološko društvo Srbije |
Partners for Democratic Change |
Partneri za demokratske promene |
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia |
Helsinški odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji |
Centre for Development of Civil Society |
Centar za razvoj civilnog društva |
CHRIS Network |
CHRIS mreža |
Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina |
Nezavisno društvo novinara Vojvodine |
Labris |
|
Centre for Practical Policy |
Centar za praktičnu politiku |
Brodarevo NGO Network |
Mreža NVO Brodareva |
CDD Europolis |
|
Roman Women’s Rights Centre |
NVO Centar za prava Romkinja |
Association of Students with Disabilities |
Udruženje studenata sa hendikepom |
DUGA Association |
Asocijacija DUGA |
Forum 10 Academic Initiative |
Akademska inicijativa “Forum 10” |
Roma Forum of Serbia |
Forum Roma Srbije |
Sandzak Committee for Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms |
Sandžački odbor za zaštitu ljudskih prava i sloboda |
Link Plus |
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Gayten-LGBT |
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Centre for Ecology and Sustainable Development – CEKOR |
Centar za ekologiju i održivi razvoj – CEKOR |
SVET I DUNAV NGO |
NVO SVET I DUNAV |
Dialogue Valjevo |
Dijalog Valjevo |
European Movement, Novi Sad |
Evropski pokret Novi Sad |
Legal Documentation Office – PRADOK |
Pravno dokumentaciona kancelarija PRADOK |
Serbian Judiciary Trade Union |
Sindikat pravosuđa Srbije |
Vranje Multiple Sclerosis Association |
Udruženje multiple skleroze Vranje |
Zajedno Zajedno |
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Uzice Child Rights Centre |
Užički centar za prava deteta |
Initiative for Development and Cooperation |
UG Inicijativa za razvoj i saradnju |
And by the following associations and foundations:
European Movement in Serbia |
Evropski pokret u Srbiji |
Fund for an Open Society |
Fondacija za otvoreno društvo |
Centre of Modern Skills |
Centar za moderne veštine |
Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence |
Beogradski fond za političku izuzetnost |
Trag Foundation |
Trag Fondacija |
Public Policy Research Centre |
Centar za javne politike |
Centre for the Development of Trade Unionism |
Centar za razvoj sindikalizma |
YUROM Centre |
YUROM CENTAR |
Women’s Platform for the Development of Serbia |
Ženska platforma za razvoj Srbije |
Nezavisnost Trade Union Confederation |
Ujedinjeni granski sindikati „Nezavisnost“ |
Share Foundation |
Share Fondacija |
Astra |
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Centre for Investigative Journalism |
Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo |
Streets for Cyclists |
UG Ulice za bicikliste |
Western Balkans Institute |
Zapadnobalkanski institut |
Lilit Association, Belgrade |
Udruženje Lilit, Beograd |
DamaD Cultural Centre |
Kulturni centar DamaD |
1804 Choir and Conversation Club |
Klub Hor i Razgovor iz 1804 |
Vinca Neolithic Association |
Udruženje Vinčanski Neolit |
Adult Education Society |
Društvo za obrazovanje odraslih |
Valjevo Human Rights Committee |
Odbor za ljudska prava Valjevo |
Prijepolje Women’s Forum |
Forum žena Prijepolja |
Šumska Vila Environmental Civic Association |
Ekološko udruženje građana Šumska vila |
AS Centre |
AS centar |
Sanitary Ecology Society |
Sanitarno ekološko društvo |
Youth Initiative for Human Rights |
Inicijativa mladih za ljudska prava |
ZAJEDNO Single Parents’ Association, Novi Pazar |
Udruženje samohranih roditelja ZAJEDNO iz Novog Pazara |
Urban In |
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Južne vesti |
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Peščanik |
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Centre for Advanced Economic Studies – CEVES |
Centar za visoke ekonomske studije – CEVES |
Serbian Doctors’ and Pharmacists’ Trade Union |
Sindikat lekara i farmaceuta Srbije |
InTer |
- Comments of the Association of Prosecutors of Serbia, the Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights and the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights on the Working Version of the Draft Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia
- Ustavni sud razmatra sporazum Beograda i Prištine