The aim of the seminar is for Croatia, as a new member of the European Union, to share with prosecutors from the region its experience in reinforcing the rule of law, legislative reforms and the fight against transnational organised crime.
"The project is very significant for the creation of an international framework for cooperation in the prevention of organised crime and corruption," Croatian Justice Minister Orsat Miljenic said, adding that organised crime knew no borders, so institutions in neighbouring countries must cooperate.
He said Croatia had gone through many reforms during its EU accession negotiations, but that this did not mean that it was better or that it should teach anyone. "We must learn together."
Commenting on amendments to the law on criminal procedure that have been requested by the Constitutional Court, Miljenic said no tools in the fight against corruption and organised crime would be lost and that efficiency standards would not be lowered.
US Ambassador Kenneth Merten said the regional project to strengthen the judiciary should ensure practical information for the police, prosecutors and judges as well as create a platform to share experiences and better cross-border cooperation.
I hope that as friends we can expand our support and be partners to all the countries in the region to achieve the common goals, he said.
Croatian Chief State Prosecutor Mladen Bajic said Croatia had made a big step forward through the EU accession negotiations. We have improved our system through the help of partners, he added.
The participants in the workshop were also welcomed by Croatian Supreme Court president Branko Hrvatin, who said judicial bodies must stick together because recent experience had shown that organised crime did not sever its connections even in war.