NOVI SAD – The Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković and the USAID Mission Director Susan K. Fritz visited the newly renovated Novi Sad Misdemeanor Court. This court, the second-largest in the country, was renovated with USAID funds. Dragomir Milojević, President of the High Court Council and the Supreme Court of Cassation, and Zoran Pašalić, President of the Appellate Misdemeanor Court also participated in the visit.                    

The renovation of the court's information and intake area in the court’s lobby and the adjacent registry office  took place in January 2014, while the archives were renovated last summer. USAID also provided IT equipment to the Court and a server for the Court's local area network. 

“Serbia’s judiciary is at the forefront of one of the most important chapters of the country’s accession negotiations with the European Union.  This important and historic step can be seen not only as a renewed emphasis on judicial reform, but more importantly as critical means to strengthening the legal underpinnings of economic changes that will bring increased well-being and prosperity for the Serbian people”, said USAID’s Mission Director Susan K. Fritz.

This renovation project is part of USAID’s efforts to improve efficiency in Serbia's misdemeanor court system by streamlining procedures, resolving spatial and organizational issues, and enabling greater transparency and easier access to justice for citizens. These efforts go hand in hand with the activities of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration on the implementation of the National Judicial Reform Strategy.

The offences act which will be implemented as of March 1, 2014 will prevent corruption that citizens are confronted with on an everyday basis. This is why it is important for the second largest misdemeanor court in Serbia to have optimal working conditions and easy access to information for citizens. Thanks to this renovation project financed by USAID the misdemeanor court in Novi Sad will have a much better work flow” said Minister Selakovic.