The European Union representatives and the Western Balkan partners discussed the rule of law, judicial reforms, enhancing judicial training and various initiatives and challenges in the field of digitalisation of justice, Slovenia reported on Friday ending its six-month EU Presidency.

The press release quoted Marjan Dikaucic, Slovenian Justice Minister saying his country’s Presidency stressed „the commitment of all the participants to strengthening the rule of law, in particular by continued efforts to ensure the independence, accountability, integrity, quality and efficiency of justice systems“.

The EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs took place on 1–3 December 2021 at Brdo pri Kranju. Dikaucic and Interior Minister Ales Hojs, as representatives of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, together with the European Commission, represented by European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, met with their counterparts from the Western Balkans at the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs, the press release said.

It added that the meeting was also attended by representatives of the incoming French and Czech Presidencies and the Vice-President of Eurojust.

During the judicial part of the meeting, the participants discussed the rule of law, judicial reforms, enhancing judicial training and various initiatives and challenges in the field of digitalisation of justice, it said, adding the ministers reiterated the crucial importance of the rule of law for the implementation of reforms, including judicial reforms, and for ensuring good governance and respect for human rights. In this context, the Western Balkans partners outlined key achievements in the area of rule of law and judicial reform, as well as areas where further progress is needed.