Pavličić: It is time for trust in the judiciary to be a permanent category

The system is only strong if it has the trust of citizens, said the President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro, Valentina Pavličić, and said that it is time for trust in the judiciary to be a permanent category. Pavličić said this on the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Supreme Court and the AIRE Center, which created a framework for new joint activities aimed at improving the implementation of European and international standards in the Montenegrin judicial system.

As announced by the Supreme Court, Pavličić emphasized the importance of this initiative for strengthening judicial independence and harmonizing judicial practice with European standards.

"This cooperation further strengthens the Montenegrin judiciary in the European integration process, enabling judges to consistently apply the standards of the European Court of Human Rights," said Pavličić.

She added that through her work so far, she has had a positive experience with the AIRE Center and that the support of the United Kingdom Government to judicial institutions is unquestionable.

"The system is only strong if it has the trust of citizens. It is time for trust in the judiciary to not be a temporary, but a permanent category. That is what we are building through partnerships like this," emphasized Pavličić.

The Director of the Western Balkans Program at the AIRE Center, Biljana Braithwaite, emphasized that the Memorandum represents an important step in improving the rule of law.

"Through this project, together with the Supreme Court, we are working to raise awareness and strengthen the capacity of domestic courts to consistently apply fundamental human rights, which is a key prerequisite for judicial reforms in Montenegro," said Braithwaite.

She pointed out that Pavličić, given previous cooperation and understanding of the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, recognizes the importance of these efforts in strengthening the rule of law and harmonization with European standards.

"Nothing will happen overnight, but compare the situation today and a few years ago. You will see big and important developments," Braithwaite pointed out.

The Supreme Court said that the agreement was implemented with the support of the Embassy in Podgorica and aims to strengthen the application of the European Convention on Human Rights in the practice of domestic courts and contribute to judicial reforms in the context of Montenegro's European integration, especially within the framework of negotiating Chapter 23.

"The memorandum envisages a series of activities, including the organization of thematic roundtables and seminars, the preparation of analyses and reports, and the raising of awareness of the standards from the most significant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, with particular reference to the practice of the countries of the region," the statement said.

It is added that, through this cooperation, the Supreme Court will actively contribute to strengthening the professional capacities of judges and judicial institutions, while the AIRE Center will provide support through expert analyses, organizing educational activities, and engaging international experts.

As stated in the statement, this year the Supreme Court began strengthening and improving the monitoring of court cases through an electronic management system, in order to reduce court backlogs and more intensively apply the standards of the European Court of Human Rights.