Proposals for more effective prosecution of cases under Chapter XV of the Criminal Code The above considerations seem to highlight the importance of finding ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of prosecution of electoral offences. One such arrangement could be the Binding Instructions, a feature of Serbian law envisaged by Article 25[2] of the Law on the Public Prosecution Service: ‘The National Public Prosecutor shall issue written general binding instructions for all public prosecutors so as to ensure legality, effectiveness, and consistency in their actions. General binding instructions may be issued by the National Public Prosecutor at the initiative of the College of the National Public Prosecutor’s Office’. This mechanism does not apply to any specific case, but rather regulates actions in a particular category of cases. The Binding Instructions could be used to require urgent prosecution of cases involving these offences and periodic public reporting of the actions taken, which would contribute to building public trust in how the prosecution service handle these allegations. Additionally, a panel of prosecutors at Prosecution of electoral offences should be the National Public Prosecutor’s Office could be made more effective and efficient. This required to hear objections against rulings rejecting could be done through Binding criminal charges. These decisions ought to be Instructions that would require urgent made promptly, by a time limit shorter than prosecution of these cases, regular public reporting, tighter time limits for decisionthe 15 days mandated by law. The names of making, and complete transparency. Deputy Public Prosecutors at the National Public Prosecutor’s Office who hear objections should be made public, which would help allay public concerns about how objections are handled. One particularly important consideration to include in these Binding Instructions is for the National Public Prosecutor’s Office to publish extracts from rulings on objections on its web site. 4.1.2.6. Anti-Corruption Agency The position, powers, organization, and operation of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) are all governed by the Law on Prevention of Corruption,58 adopted in 2019 and effective as of 1 September 2020. The ACA continues the traditions of the Corruption Prevention Agency, established under the 2008 Law on the Corruption Prevention Agency. The ACA has a broad remit on issues important for combating corruption, but in the electoral context its key powers are scrutinizing political finance and potential abuse of public resources. 58 Law on Prevention of Corruption, Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, Nos. 35/2019 and 88/2019. 39

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