The report provides independent insight into progress achieved in the areas covered by Chapters 23 and 24 in Serbia, as well as advancing recommendations for improvements in the monitored areas.

Coalition prEUgovor Report on Progress of Serbia in Chapters 23 and 24 - October 2017

Coalition prEUgovor has published the latest independent report on Serbia's progress in implementing policies in the areas of : judiciary and fundamental rights (Chapter 23) and justice, freedom and security (Chapter 24) of the negotiation process.

The report covers the period from May to October 2017, and contains findings in areas of particular importance for the member organizations of the coalition, which were monitored in the previous period. Findings include the implementation of the Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the newly adopted Strategy for the Prevention and Suppression of Himan Trafficking, current situation in the field of migrations in Serbia, as well as the civil and democratic control of the security sector.

Unfortunately, numerous recommendations are similar to the previous prEUgovernment report, since very little has been done in some areas, despite the positive self-assessment of the state.

Although government officials often claim that the pace of Serbia in terms of the EU accession process is good, when it comes to the implementation of action plans for chapters 23 and 24, the report shows that the implementation of many of the planed measures has been postponed, while for those that have been implemented there are no clear and solid evidence that they created expected changes. Regardless of some positive developments (which are also listed in the report), the overall assessment of the situation in the areas monitored is negative.

The publication of this report is supported by the European Unions through the Civil Society Facility Program within the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). The content of this report is solely responsible of the publisher, and the views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the European Union.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction

1. POLITICAL CRITERIA
1.1. Democracy - Presidential Elections
1.2. Democratic and Civilian Control over the Security Sector 1.3. Regional Issues and Good Neighbourly Relations
1.4. Normalisation of Relations between Serbia and Kosovo
1.5. Anti-Discrimination Policy and Gender Equality

 

2. CHAPTER 23 - JUDICIARY AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
2.1. Judiciary
2.1.1. Impartiality and Accountability
2.1.2. Professionalism/Competence/Efficiency
2.2. Fight against Corruption
2.2.1. Strategic Plans
2.2.2. Governmental Priorities and Their Implementation 2.2.3. Work of the Parliament
2.2.4. Unfulfilled Action Plans’ Measures
2.2.5 Anti-Corruption Policy in the Police
2.3. Fundamental Rights 2.3.1. Personal Data Protection
2.3.2. Principle of Non-Discrimination and Social Position of Vulnerable Groups
2.3.3. Rights of the Child
2.3.4. Strengthening of Procedural Safeguards in Line with EU Standards
2.3.5. Access to Information of Public Importance

 

3. CHAPTER 24 - JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY
3.1. Migration and Asylum
3.2. Police Reform 3.3. Fight against Organised Crime
3.3.1. Suppressing and Combating Human Trafficking
3.3.2. Position of Human Trafficking Victims in Court Proceedings
3.4. Fight against Terrorism 
 

Members of the prEUgovor are:

ASTRA - Anti trafficking Action, Autonomus Women's Center (AWC), Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), Center for Applied European Studies (CAES), Center for Investigative Reporting in Serbia (CIRS), Group 484 and Transparency Serbia (TS)

Mission of the prEUgovor is to oversee the implementation of policies in the field of judiciary and fundamental rights (Chapter 23) and Justice, freedom and security (Chapter 24) and propose measures to improve the reforms, using the process of EU integration to achieve substantial progress in the further democratization of Serbia.

Follow prEUgovor activities on the official Facebook page and Twitter account.