The reconstructed Palace of Justice building was inaugurated today in Belgrade in the presence of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Justice Minister Nela Kuburović, EU Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimović, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi, Serbian Public Prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac, Constitutional Court President Vesna Ilić Prelić, judges and prosecutors.
“The renewed Palace of Justice is an embodiment of progress of the whole society, and of a better and higher standard of living, just as is any hospital we have built or refurbished”, President Vučić said.
The President of Serbia stated that citizens deserved justice, law and justice going hand in hand. “I am proud [of this achievement] also on behalf of judges, prosecutors, their deputies, who will have better work conditions in this building, their own offices, but most importantly, citizens who when they come here will be able to see improvement and progress”, Vučić observed.
Minister Kuburović recalled that the reconstruction of the largest facility in the country housing judicial authorities had taken 29 months, adding that employees, judges and prosecutors were provided with modern work conditions.
Minister Kuburović emphasised that all requirements had been met to schedule trials more often in order to ensure proceedings within a reasonable time and easier access to justice for citizens. She explained that the building housed the Higher Court and Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office of Belgrade, the Second Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office and the criminal department of the Second Basic Court of Belgrade.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi said that the rule of law today was more important than ever, since it was the foundation of any democratic society, for the EU as much as for Serbia which was determined to become a full member of the EU. “This Palace will ensure better access to judicial authorities owing to a greater number of courtrooms, which will make it easier for citizens to access justice and allow them to have trials within a reasonable time”, Fabrizi confirmed.
The Belgrade High Court President Aleksandar Stepanović indicated that the Palace of Justice had been and still was a symbol of Belgrade’s and Serbia’s judiciary and that moving into the building equipped to the highest EU standards was not only an act of moving in, but also a step towards advancing the rule of law and the fundamental principles of democracy.