Western Balkans Debt Resolution and the MDTF JSS projects

Building on the previous successful cooperation, the Western Balkans Debt Resolution and the MDTF JSS projects have once again joined forces to enhance the quality of the judiciary in Serbia, as well as to facilitate reform of the judicial system to ensure that the laws, rules and practices are comprehensive, transparent and consistent. To this end, a series of trainings has been organized aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and increasing the awareness of the relevant stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities.

One such example is the recently supported Annual Conference of the Commercial Court of Appeals, held at Zlatibor from September 6-9, which has given us one more opportunity to leverage synergy within the World Bank Group. The conference is a traditional event that focuses on the most current and disputable issues under the jurisdiction of commercial courts.

This year’s main topics included novelties in the field of bankruptcy, privatization, enforcement, civil rights, and the matter of corporate crime. During the three-day consultations, 7 reports and 320 issues in the field of commercial law have been discussed focusing inter alia on the change of creditor’s claims against the debtor, nullification of the General Assembly decisions, the variable interest rate clause in the loan agreements, basic criminal and legal aspects of bankruptcy, joint sale of immovable and movable assets, and the novelties in the Law on Enforcement and Security. As noted at the opening ceremony, a total of 39,629 out of 104,762 cases were resolved in the first half of 2016, i.e. 49% more than in the same period last year. Particularly good results have been achieved in resolving the case backlog, whose number has been decreased by 61%. One of the crucial conclusions derived from the discussions is that the further improvements in efficiency of the commercial courts are of paramount importance for the entire judicial system in Serbia.

The event was attended by 288 participants representing commercial courts, the Supreme Court of Cassation, the High Judicial Council and the Association of Lawyers of Serbia. Once confirmed at the Commercial Disputes and Economic Offences Department verification sessions, the event discussions, reports and conclusions shall serve as guidelines for the commercial courts and their future procedural approach.