The President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) of B&H, Halil Lagumdžija, and the Vice Presidents of the HJPC of B&H, Sanela Gorušanović-Butigan and Biljana Simeunović, had an online meeting with the US Ambassador to B&H Eric Nelson.

During the meeting, Nelson expressed satisfaction with the election of the new president and vice presidents of the HJPC B&H, expressing the desire for the new leadership to enable the efficient functioning of the judiciary in B&H, the HJPC said.

The Ambassador referred to the lack of public confidence in the institution, emphasizing the need for all activities of the HJPC B&H to be carried out in accordance with the highest standards of integrity. He also stressed the full support of the United States Embassy in B&H in advocating for reforms in the area of the judicial system.

- President Lagumdžija thanked the United States for the support that they gave so far to the judiciary of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his introductory speech, the President informed the Ambassador about the key directions of the HJPC B&H's activities in the coming period, with a review of the results achieved so far in order to improve the system. He placed special emphasis on the issue of integrity through the establishment of the Department for Integrity and the issue of quality through the establishment of two departments within the Secretariat of the HJPC B&H, which should improve this aspect of the judicial system. The President also committed himself to the proactive work and approach of the Council to all issues important for the functioning of the judiciary - the HJPC said.

Vice President Simeunović informed the Ambassador about the revision of the Law on the HJPC of B&H, emphasizing the need for urgent amendments to this law in the part where key reforms of the system are needed. She also spoke about the need for better cooperation between prosecutors and police agencies so that cases of organized crime and corruption can be processed more efficiently.

Butigan-Gorušanović informed Ambassador Nelson about the Reform Program of the HJPC B&H, which was preliminarily adopted at the last session of the Council and which will finally be adopted in April this year, after the representatives of the judicial community submit their comments and suggestions.

- She also stressed the need for urgent activities and reforms in order to restore public confidence in the institution and the judicial system, emphasizing the hope that this convocation of the HJPC B&H has the strength, knowledge and capacity to take key steps to restore confidence in the judicial system.