Effective case handling, institutional co-operation and transparency are key to translating justice reforms into lasting practices across the Western Balkans. These issues were at the centre of a three-day regional judicial conference hold in Budva from 26 to 28 October, which marked the launch of the second public report under the OSCE's Regional Trial Monitoring Project.
The conference, From Paper to Practice: Making Justice Reforms Work in Organized Crime and Corruption Cases, brought together around 150 judicial and prosecutorial representatives and justice practitioners during the first two days, followed by around 60 civil society representatives on the third day. In addition, the OSCE Mission in Montenegro facilitated the participation of nine students of the Faculty of Law of the University of Montenegro. The second public report builds on findings from the previous monitoring cycle and contributes to ongoing discussions on strengthening justice systems across the region.
At the opening of the conference, Stephan Nunner, Deputy Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre emphasized that the project's findings and recommendations were only the starting point. "Ownership and implementation are up to stakeholders involved in the justice sector. Effective justice requires an effective justice chain". He also stressed that reforms should go hand-in-hand with implementation, and "transparency can strengthen public confidence, while international partners can support necessary reforms."
Elsa Papageorgiou, Programme Manager for the Rule of Law in the Western Balkans at European Commission's DG ENEST, said that sustainable reform depends on ownership, operational clarity, continuity, and the capacity of institutions to absorb and maintain change over time. "Proper handling of organized crime and corruption cases requires well-prepared indictments, sound evidence, efficient proceedings, strong co-ordination among institutions, and outcomes that are procedurally robust and meaningful," said Papageorgiou.
In his closing remarks, Giovanni Gabassi, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, stressed that trial monitoring should not only identify shortcomings, but also help address systemic problems through practical recommendations and follow-up. "An important role also belongs to civil society in this process through independent monitoring, evidence-based advocacy, and constructive dialogue with justice institutions," said Gabassi.
The discussions underscored the importance of sustained institutional efforts to turn reforms into practice, supported by evidence-based monitoring, transparency, co-ordination among justice institutions, and constructive engagement with civil society.
Over the past two years, the project has monitored more than 350 cases and 4,000 hearings across six Western Balkan jurisdictions. In Montenegro, the OSCE Mission's Regional Trial Monitoring Project team monitored 1,018 hearings in 61 cases and held nearly 100 meetings and consultations with justice-sector stakeholders. The project is funded by the European Commission through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and implemented by OSCE field operations in Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje and Tirana.
