Remarks by Olivér VÁRHELYI at the Inauguration of the Palace of Justice Novi Sad

Inauguration of the Palace of Justice Novi Sad

Dear Ministers,

I am very happy to find the time to also come here to Novi Sad from Belgrade and from another project. It shows that we are working together with Serbia on all aspects of the EU requirements of Serbia to become a member.

I am very happy and honoured to see that a new Palace of Justice is not only built but it will be put in good use right after the summer recess of the justice, as I have been told.

I am very proud that Serbia is not only delivering on the economic front but also visibly delivering on improving the justice system. It has been a long request from the EU for Serbia to move forward with the justice reforms. Something that we have seen in legislation but something that you see also now physically.

This is a new Palace of Justice in the historic town of Novi Sad, which has always been host to many generations of well-known judges and justices. And I am very proud to be able to contribute to realize this long-lasting challenge for Novi Sad. We were able to contribute with EUR 13 million to build this new Palace of Justice.

The lawyers of Novi Sad have always been very famous; I am a lawyer from Szeged and they have always been very famous also in my country. And of course, this investment is for the people and business of Serbia and the broader region of Vojvodina, where we hope that with this new building, we will increase the access to justice as well as help to make justice even more efficient and even more effectively provided to the citizens and business of Serbia.

Because strengthening the functioning of the judiciary is a fundamental pillar of the EU accession process. This is not only the fundamental part and pillar of the accession process, but this is also part and parcel of creating any credible business environment and environment for investments.

This place is the guarantee for businesses – be them local, European or international – that justice is going to be provided in a fair, accessible and effective manner. And this is also a message for other business to come and invest in Serbia because they can rest assured that they will get their cases handled at the same level of quality as we have it in the European Union.

I think the collective commitment we have made with the Government, with judges who are going to run this house, are not only visible but I do hope they will pay dividends very-very soon. I do hope that you will see a major improvement already from the second half of this year here in Novi Sad.

Thank you very much and I want to congratulate all of those who have made this dream come True and delivered it for the people of Novi Sad.

Thank you!