A new joint programme of the European Union and Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility” in the area of justice, economic crime and anti-discrimination, worth EUR25 million, was launched today in Belgrade.
The programme aims at supporting the Western Balkans and Turkey and is scheduled to run until May 2019.
The goal of the programme is to assist the authorities in Serbia in complying with European standards on ensuring justice, combating economic crime, promoting anti-discrimination and protecting rights of vulnerable groups.
“We expect the programme to boost the reform process in Serbia,” said the Head of the EU Delegation in Belgrade Michael Davenport.
FoNet
Under the programme, seven projects will be implemented with the aim to improve the efficiency of justice, protect the rights of inmates, provide mutual legal assistance, combat corruption within higher education, foster the culture of democracy in schools, tackle trafficking in human beings and protect national minorities.
“The success of the programme will be decided by the level of cooperation among the ministries, civil society, media and local authorities,” Davenport said.
Verena Taylor, the Director of the Office of the Directorate General of Programmes of the CoE, said that the programme was particularly significant as it offered the citizens protection of their rights, independent judiciary and the opportunity to exercise democratic control.
All of which leads to a more democratic society, better equipped to face current challenges, Verena Taylor said.
Background
FoNet
On 11 April 2016, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, and the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, announced a new co-operation initiative aimed at supporting South-East Europe and Turkey in their efforts to comply with European standards.
The joint initiative is running from May 2016 to May 2019 focusing on three themes: ensuring justice, fighting economic crime as well as combating discrimination and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.
Its budget is EUR25 million, out of which EUR20 million has been provided by the European Union and EUR5 million by the Council of Europe. The Horizontal Facility will cover actions of the Council of Europe in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” as well as Kosovo*. Turkey will not be recipient of technical assistance but may benefit under this Facility from the Council of Europe legislative expertise under the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
