Bosnia’s High Judicial Council appoints judges and negotiates EU rule changes

The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VSTV) confirmed a large slate of judicial appointments on 15‑16 July. New judges and court presidents were named for the Federation, Republika Srpska and Brčko District, covering municipal, cantonal, district and appellate courts. Selections were made according to criteria such as legal expertise, professional experience, integrity and gender‑ethnic balance.

At the same time, VSTV continued talks with the European Union on amendments to its Rules of Procedure governing the recruitment of external experts who oversee judges’ and prosecutors’ asset disclosures. EU partners have accepted four of five contentious points; the remaining dispute concerns whether the external experts are proposed by Expertise France or by VSTV itself. VSTV stresses the need for transparent public calls and minimum qualifications – a law degree, ten years of relevant experience and an age limit of 70.

A recent VSTV session also presented the fifth periodic external‑expert report on the Asset Verification Department. The report noted persistent staffing shortages, delayed asset filings by officials and limited international cooperation, which impede timely processing of disclosures. VSTV has taken steps to improve data exchange with several Western Balkan states, though requests for information from Germany, Austria, Turkey and Slovenia were denied.