Justice Minister Nela Kuburovic, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi and European Investment Bank representative Dubravka Negre visited the EUR16 million-worth reconstruction works being carried out on the Palace of Justice.
Following the visit, Kuburovic told the press that the renovation of the 24,000 square metre building began in March and was funded through an EIB loan.
“By improving the infrastructure, the Ministry is trying to create efficient working conditions and enhance the effectiveness of court proceedings. The Palace of Justice is the biggest building in the judicial system that hosted seven different judicial authorities prior to reconstruction,” Kuburovic said.
According to her, today’s visit provided an opportunity to make sure whether the reconstruction works are progressing at a foreseen pace.
“I believe that we will finish everything we planned in 24 months and that by early 2019 we will have opened the Palace of Justice. I appreciate the support the EU is extending to Serbia on its EU path. This is a project that makes the support we receive to meet our obligations arising from the chapter 23 action plan visible,” Kuburovic said.
Ambassador Fabrizi said that the project was implemented jointly by the EU and Serbia. The reconstruction, which is funded by the EU and EIB, he added, “is a symbol of Serbia’s progress.”
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“We should make sure that judges, judicial authorities and citizens have a place where they will be able to get justice. Once it is back in operation, the building will be the workplace of more than 1,000 people and a whole lot more will visit it every day,” Fabrizi said.
Fabrizi said that the reconstruction of the Palace of Justice was part of a wider project of support for Serbia, recalling the reconstruction of the Basic Court in Kraljevo.
“These are the tangible results of the important job we are doing with the Government across Serbia, foreseen by chapters 23 and 24. I am happy to hear the Minister say the construction works will be done on time,” he said.
Negre said that a couple of years ago the EIB approved a EUR41 million loan to Serbia which had been used to fund the reconstruction of both the Court in Kataniceva street and the Palace of Justice.
“We have recently disbursed a EUR4 million tranche and now we can see that it is being put to use. The goal of the project is to support the modernisation of judicial institutions in order to improve their efficiency,” Negre said and added that Serbia was the only Western Balkans country with such a project.
EUR2.9 million EU grant is used to fund reconstruction supervision and prepare the project and technical documentation, Negre said and announced that in the next couple of years a reconstruction and upgrade of the Court in Ustanicka street would be carried out as well.
Once the reconstruction is finished, the Palace of Justice will be home to Higher Court in Belgrade, First Basic Court in Belgrade (criminal division) as well as Higher and First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office.
