The Venice Commission is expected to publish an opinion on amendments to Serbia’s judicial legislation in the coming weeks, with formal adoption scheduled for June, the Council of Europe said on Thursday.
The opinion, requested by Serbian parliament speaker Ana Brnabić, concerns changes adopted on Jan. 28, 2026, governing the judiciary and public prosecution system.
A delegation from the Venice Commission visited Belgrade on March 16–17 as part of preparations for the urgent opinion, holding meetings with senior government and judicial officials, lawmakers, and international stakeholders.
During the visit, the delegation met with the speaker of parliament, the justice minister, members of parliament, and representatives of key judicial institutions, including the High Judicial Council, the High Prosecutorial Council, and the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office. Talks also included officials from specialised departments dealing with organised and high-tech crime.
The delegation additionally held consultations with civil society organisations, professional associations of judges and prosecutors, as well as representatives of the European Union delegation in Serbia and other international partners.
The Council of Europe said the urgent opinion is expected to be formally adopted at the Venice Commission’s 147th plenary session, scheduled for June 12–13.
Serbian officials have said the opinion will be important for assessing the alignment of recent judicial reforms with European standards, amid the country’s ongoing efforts to advance its European Union integration process.