Strengthening Regional Judicial Cooperation in the Western Balkans for Effective Litigation before the European Court of Justice and Implementation of

About the Project

As of October 1, 2024, the Center for Legal Research and Analysis has started implementing the project „Strengthening Regional Judicial Cooperation in the Western Balkans for Effective Litigation before CJEU and Implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights”. This project is the first regional project within the framework of CLRA, which is being implemented in cooperation with the civil organizations “Civic Alliance”- Montenegro, “Civil Rights Defenders”- Serbia and “Civil Rights Defenders”- Albania.

The continuous legal education of the judiciary is pivotal in enhancing the skills of judges, prosecutors, and legal practitioners, fostering a shift in mentality, and equipping them with the requisite knowledge of jurisprudence from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and practical implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union within national legal frameworks. While significant support has been provided by donors in judicial reform processes across North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania, the ongoing efforts are essential as these countries progress towards EU accession, necessitating sustainable enhancement of judicial capacities on CJEU jurisprudence and European fundamental rights standards. Consequently, this project has been proposed to address these imperatives and progressively build connections between the legal communities in the four countries, fostering collaboration and exchanging best practices with key EU stakeholders.

The global objective is to enhance skills and capacities of judges, public prosecutors and legal practitioners to litigate substantive EU law before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) once they become member states and to implement effectively the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The specific objectives of this project are:

• Strengthened regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing among judiciary professionals in North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania regarding common challenges and solutions related to the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of EU and litigation before the CJEU,
• Enhanced capacities of judiciary in the four countries for litigation before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU),
• Enhanced capacities of judiciary in the four countries for applying the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Final Beneficiaries:

Republic of North Macedonia – Academy of Judges and Public Prosecutors, Supreme Court of the Republic of North Macedonia, Judicial Council of the Republic of Macedonia, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Macedonia, Council of Public Prosecutors of the Republic of Macedonia, Association of Public Prosecutors of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of Justice, Presidents of courts (basic, appellate, high), legal experts (international and domestic experts, university professors, lawyers, etc.), Association of Judges of the Republic of Macedonia.

Republic of Serbia – Academy of Judiciary, Supreme Court of Cassation of Serbia, High Judicial Council, High Prosecutorial Council, Presidents of courts (basic, appellate, high), legal experts (international and domestic legal experts, lawyers).

Republic of Montenegro – Training Center for Judiciary and Public Prosecution, Supreme Court, Judicial Council, Prosecutorial Council, Ministry of Justice, Presidents of Courts (basic, appellate, high), legal experts (international and domestic experts, university professors, lawyers, etc.), Association of Public Prosecutors of Montenegro, Association of Judges of Montenegro.

Republic of Albania – The School of Magistrates, Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, High Judicial Council, High Prosecutorial Council, Ministry of Justice, Presidents of Courts (first instance and appellate courts), National Association of Judges, legal experts (international and domestic legal experts, lawyers).