Background 2024

The Regional Conference on Justice and Mediation for EU Integration, taking place this year in Sarajevo, builds on a series of successful regional events organized by CSSP Berlin Center for Integrative Mediation since 2020.
This year’s conference aims to bring together a diverse scope of stakeholders from the judiciary and mediation systems across the Western Balkans and South-East Europe.

As the region navigates its EU accession journey, particularly with the crucial Chapter 23 focused on judiciary and fundamental rights, the conference will emphasize the role of mediation as a vital tool for enhancing justice and legal processes. Participants will include judges, mediators, legal experts, and policy makers, fostering peer networks and collaboration to address common challenges and share best practices in mediation.

The conference will feature a series of sessions and discussions highlighting successful mediation initiatives and exploring strategies to improve the integration of mediation into national legal frameworks. It aims to encourage comprehensive discussions about the challenges, best practices and lessons learned from Southeast Europe, related to mediation within the context of judicial reforms and EU integration. By enhancing the understanding and practice of mediation, the conference aims to contribute to more effective judicial systems and overall development of mediation in the region.

The first half of the day will focus on legal and institutional frameworks for mediation, while the second half is dedicated to strategies for increasing the number of mediation cases, effectively promoting mediation and enhancing court referrals. These topics build on the insights and interest generated during previous events in recent years.