Today, Justice Minister Nela Kuburović met with Hungary’s Ministry of Justice State Secretary János Bóka to discuss continuous advancement of cooperation between the two Ministries of Justice by way of signing bilateral agreements. Minister Kuburović and the State Secretary concurred that the relations between Serbia and Hungary were at the highest level, and that cooperation between the two Ministries of Justice was excellent.
State Secretary Bóka noted that Hungary supported Serbia’s efforts to joining the European Union (EU) and the overall policy on EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans, especially given that Serbia was the pillar of stability in the region. Minister Kuburović thanked Hungary for its support and, using the system of judicial professions as an example, said that Serbia had relied on the experience of Hungary’s justice system in achieving European standards. She also commended the excellent cooperation between Serbia’s and Hungary’s bailiffs chambers and notaries chambers.
Minister Kuburović and State Secretary Bóka concurred that it was necessary to advance bilateral agreements between their Ministries of Justice since international legal cooperation between the two countries was based on an agreement dating from 1968. They said that bilateral agreements should advance cooperation in criminal and other legal matters between Serbia and Hungary, which would facilitate Serbia’s further compliance with the European standards.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the interlocutors signed 2019−2020 Action Plan for the Implementation of the Memorandum on Legal Cooperation which Serbia and Hungary had signed in 2015. The Memorandum established close cooperation in specific areas, such as support to Serbia in its efforts to joining the EU, judicial reform, education, training of civil servants and promotion of national and minorities’ rights within the judiciary.