A roundtable discussion was held in Sarajevo with judicial office holders selected for confidential counsellors in the field of ethics and integrity, which was also attended by members of the HJPC Standing Commission for Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Accountability of judicial office holders, representatives of the HJPC Secretariat - Department for Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Accountability of Judicial Office Holders, and representatives of the EU4Justice project.

Namely, following the GRECO evaluation from 2018., according to which „no confidential counselling on issues of ethics and integrity was available for judges and prosecutors at any level in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and no measures appear to have been taken to implement this part of the recommendation “, several activities have been carried out under recently ended USAID „JACA “Project. Hence it was agreed between USAID and EU that EU4 Justice will take over the activity of enhancing the system of confidential counselling, that is important for the efficient functioning in the BiH judiciary.

Therefore, during the event an overview of the activities so far implemented was given, while BiH judicial office holders - Counsellors shared their expectations on this matter. Ms. Lise Chipault, judge and Head of the French Delegation at GRECO, engaged as an expert within the EU4Justice project, presented to the participants the state of play on the existing confidential counselling mechanisms in France. Ms. Chipault, was deputy director of the Secretariat of the High Judicial Council of Judges and Prosecutors in France that set up in 2016 an Ethic Support and Monitoring Service to advise the JOHs while guaranteeing their anonymity. In the second part of the event, the draft Activity Plan was formulated with activities to further strengthen the role confidential counselling, including practical methodologies ensuring full alignment with ECHR jurisprudence on the matter, which will be presented to the Standing Commission and the HJPC for endorsement.

Confidential counseling in the judiciary will build a stronger foundation of ethical awareness and practice among professionals, ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in their work. Through their work confidential counselors will support judges and prosecutors when needed, and they will contribute to the better understanding of fundamental ethical principles and their application in the work of judicial office holders, as well as developing strategies for effectively resolving ethical dilemmas.

The next round table will be held in Banja Luka, within the framework of the EU4Justice project supported by the European Union.