European special representative Peter Sorensen sent a letter to outgoing president of the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, Milorad Novkovic, congratulating him on a successful tenure. Mr. Novkovic was replaced by Milan Tegeltija, previously the president of the Basic Court of Banja Luka.
“You rightly recognised the need for furthering the reforms to help increase the professionalism and efficiency of an accountable and independent judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a prerequisite for future integration in the European Union”, Ambassador Sorensen wrote in the letter, thanking Mr Novkovic for defending independence of the judiciary in BiH and supporting the EU-BiH Structured Dialogue on Justice.
The HJPC’s role in BiH has been the cause of controversy in recent years. The Council was formed under pressure from the High Representative, and its existence and powers are at odds with judicial norms in Europe and elsewhere.
