Justice remains a non-transparent sector and the level of implementing the overdue measures continues to be low. This is a finding of experts of the independent think tank “Expert-Grup”, who carried out an analysis of the process of implementing the justice sector reform strategy for 2011 – 2016.
The Center’s economist Tatiana Savva, in a news conference at IPN, said of the 489 measures planned to be carried out by the end of 2016, 80% were reported as implemented. However, only 27% of these can change the situation in the system. Half of these were delivered on time, while the rest are three months to three years late. Less than 5% of the measures weren’t implemented, while the rest were carried out partially.
“If we take into account the importance of the non-delivered measures, we can say that the reform implementation level is much lower. Justice continues not to be trusted by the population,” stated Tatiana Savva.
According to the study, the shortcomings in implementing the strategy are related to the prosecution service reform, the law on mediation, the law on notary service, the law on probation and others. The National Institute of Justice, the Constitutional Court, the advocacy system, the system of bailiffs and the institution of the people’s ombudsman haven’t been yet reformed. “The penitentiary system and the prosecution service haven’t been demilitarized. The National Integrity Commission and the corruption fighting instruments are not sufficiently consolidated,” said the expert.
Ensuring better substantiation for the reform and correctly assessing the needs of the system are among the lessons that should be learned from this reform. The necessity of coordinating efforts and of correctly choosing the methods of managing the reform, which are directly related to the efficient use of money, should be acknowledged. Transparency and better communication of the results and problems would have ensured better understanding of the issue, stated the experts.
Last yearend, Parliament extended the deadline for implementing the justice sector reform strategy for 2011 – 2016 until December 31, 2017. The Ministry of Justice pledged to work out a new justice sector reform policy document and to identify sources of financing.
Until October 20 this year, the Ministry of Justice is to present a report on the implementation of the justice sector reform strategy for 2011 – 2016 in Parliament.
