Publisher: Fondacija Centar za javno pravo

Desecularization of public spaces and religious instruction in the Republic of Serbia

Desekularizovanje javnog prostora i verska nastava u Republici Srbiji

Author(s): Darko Simović / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; education; religious education; Republic of Serbia; desecularization;

Serbia has no clearly defined model of secularism. The search for a lasting model of secularity is a consequence of a half-century long practice of aggressive atheism in the period of communism which ceased the natural process of evolution of the relations between the state and church. Although the 2006 Constitution of the Republic of Serbia had explicitly proclaimed the principle of secularism, the existing practice, as well as the standpoint of the Constitutional Court is that Serbia should accept the model of cooperative separation instead of clear and rigid separation of the state and church. At the same time, in effect is a strong process of descularization of the public space. Desecularization of the public space in a multi-confessional and multi-ethnic society bears a certain risk of an increase in stigmatizing and discriminatory practices, violence and intolerance. In that context, the introduction of religious instruction of a denominational type in Serbia should also be taken into consideration. The introduction of religious instruction in a transitional state, in which the national identity is being built on the dominant religious affiliation, is an additional factor in the disintegration of the unstable multi-confessional society.

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Religion as an elective obligation of every student in Canton Sarajevo

Vjeronauk/vjeronauka kao izborna obaveza svakog učenika u Kantonu Sarajevo

Author(s): Benjamin Hedžić / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Public law; education; religious education; BiH; Canton Sarajevo;

Iako zasigurno postoje mnogi argumenti koji idu u prilog ukidanja predmeta Vjeronauka ili barem njegovog dislociranja iz obaveznih u fakultativne predmete, rezultati postignuti u okvirima izučavanja ovog predmeta kod učenika i izuzetna aktivnost nastavnog kadra opravdava njegovu postojanost. Na nivou Kantona Sarajevo dokimološki gledano prosječna ocjena koju su učenici postigli u protekloj školskoj godini izuzetno je visoka. Ovako visoka procjena učeničkog znanja trebala bi da nam ukazuje ukoliko je ocjenjivanje bilo objektivno, da su učenici iz oblasti ovog predmeta postigli visok nivo usvojenog znanja, kompetencija i vještina. Pored toga ne treba zanemariti ni činjenicu da su vjerske zajednice u BiH itekako zainteresirane ne samo za vjersko podučavanje u okvirima vjerskih zajednica, nego i za oblast vjerskog podučavanja u školskom sistemu. Ovakav pristup dovodi do značajnog ulaganja u edukaciju vjeroučitelja, nastavnih pomagala i sredstava, kao i u oblast vannastavnih aktivnosti, poput projekata, takmičenja i zabavno-revijalnih nastupa. Sve te aktivnosti svakako utječu na prestiž, položaj i strukturu predmeta, a učenicima su nedvojbeno ekstrinzična motivacija za pohađanje ovog predmeta, što se da nedvojbeno već na prvi pogled zaključiti.

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Gospel and nationalism in education (On the example of the Catholic School Center "St. Joseph" in Sarajevo)

Evanđelje i nacionalizam u obrazovanju (Na primjeru Katoličkog školskog centra “Sv. Josip” u Sarajevu)

Author(s): Nenad Veličković / Language(s): Croatian

Keywords: Public law; gospel; nationalism; education; Sarajevo; Catholic School Center;

Based on the content analysis of the elementary school religion textbooks and literature readers used in the private institution Catholic School Centre “Sv. Josip” in Sarajevo, the paper points to deviations from the proclaimed goals of education (that is), legalized by the incorrect interpretation of the legal provisions of the secular state, and contrary to the Agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Holy See.

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Return of Religious Teaching to Serbian Model of Education - Basic Postulate, Comparative View and Explanation of Selected Model

Povratak verske nastave u srpski model obrazovanja – osnovni postulati, uporedni prikaz i obrazlaganje odabranog modela

Author(s): Ana Stevanović / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; education; religious education; Republic of Serbia; education model; review;

Verska nastava je prisutna u školskom sistemu u Republici Srbiji, u kontinuitetu, već šesnaest godina. Ustav Republike Srbije definiše našu državu kao svetovnu. Iz toga proizilazi da je i sistem obrazovanja sekularan. Način održavanja verske nastave, po mom mišljenju, ne krši sekularnost države. Ne postoji državna religija, već sistem „kooperativne razdvojenosti“. Smatram da je hrišćanstvo progresivno kreaciona religija, koja smatra da je Bog stvorio sve, da svet evoluira, ali pod nadzorom nadprirodnog kreatora, a da je nauka tu da stvara slobodne ljude i perspektivno, tolerantno i moderno društvo. Kako je izbor na versko obrazovanje izboran, a ne obavezan, ne smatram da dolazi do ugrožavanja naučnog pogleda na svet kod dece, niti da će Srbija dati prednost religijsko-konzervativnim vrednostima u odnosu na vrednosti modernog sveta. Deca imaju mogućnost gledanja šire slike i prava na izbor. Nema ničeg retrogradnog u poznavanju religije. Na ovaj način se omogućava kvalitetnije obrazovanje, unapređuje demokratsko društvo i doprinosi slobodi veroispovesti. U skladu sa iznešenim uočenim nedostacima u okviru verske nastave smatram da je potrebno, kako bi se verska nastava na najbolji način obavljala, programe Pravoslavnog katihizisa i programe ostalih verskih zajednica stalno osvežavati i unapređivati, a sve kako bi se obezbedilo ostvarivanje predviđenih ciljeva. Iskustva u višegodišnjoj realizaciji pokazuju da su najveće intervencije potrebne u programima za prvi ciklus osnovne škole, budući da se postavljeni zahtevi programa teško ostvaruju. Reviziju programa bi trebala da obavlja posebno formirana Komisija ili grupa, kojoj bi to bila glavna nadležnost. Takođe je važno uskladiti udžbenike sa stučnim stavovima veroučitelja, kako bi što jednostavnije preneli đacima svrhu verske nastave. Pogrešan sadržaj programa vodi brojnim problemima. Dozvoliti veći stepen slobode za nastavnike i učenike u izboru dela tema koje će obrađivati bi bilo višestruko korisno i proizvelo veću zainteresovanost. Prema rezultatima samoprocene nastavničkih kompetencija zaključujem da je veroučiteljima najviše pomoći potrebno kada su u pitanju kompetencije za nastavnu oblast, predmet i metodiku nastave i kompetencije za poučavanje i učenje. Prioritet su teme razvoja metodičkih znanja i veština u radu sa učenicima. Takođe, kao i što sam već navela, neophodno je obezbediti kontinuirana usavršavanja veroučitelja i to u sklopu fakulteta kao što su: učiteljski, pedagoški i filozofski. Potrebno je raspisati konkurs za izbor primera dobre prakse u nastavi Pravoslavnog katihizisa, koji će biti objavljeni u formi priručnika za nastavnike, kao i obezbediti da izabrani primeri budu dostupni svim školama i nastavnicima. Koordinatori ove aktivnosti mogu da budu Zavod za unapređivanje obrazovanja i vaspitanja. Mišljenja sam da se verska nastava nalazi na ozbiljnom i teškom ispitu. Potrebno je prevazići iskušenja zajedničkog života i rada, obrazovanja i vaspitanja, a sve radi uvođenja đaka u život crkve. Nesumnjivo je da će verska nastava itekako imati uticaja na moralno vaspitanje mladih, a da bi pozitivni efekti postojali potrebno je kontinuirano unapređivati procese realizacije nastave ovog predmeta, kao i usavršavati pedagoške i teološke kompetente veroučitelja. Takođe, Srpska Pravoslavna Crkva i ostale tradicionalne crkve i verske zajednice treba da se u većoj meri uključe u rad komisija Ministarstva prosvete, nauke i tehnološkog razvoja koje su posvećene verskoj nastavi. Odgovornost za poboljšanje verske nastave nije samo u resornom ministarstvu, već i u crkvi.

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Religious Education in the Republic of Croatia

Vjersko obrazovanje u Republici Hrvatskoj

Author(s): Alan Sorić / Language(s): Croatian

Keywords: Public law; Republic of Croatia; education; religious education;

This paper investigates issues relating to religious education in public school system in the Republic of Croatia. It focuses mainly on Catholic Catechism in public school, due to the fact that population of Croatia is predominantly Catholic and the fact that Croatia has entered into international accords with Holy See. Paper particularly analyzes and describes instances of discrimination of nonreligious school children and criticizes the fact that no alternative education is provided to such children, at least in the first three grades of elementary schools. Finally, the paper offers certain recommendations to mitigate existing problems and to eliminate discrimination from public school system of the Republic of Croatia.

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Concepts of religious education in Europe

Konzepte des Religionsunterrichtes in Europa

Author(s): Boris Kalbheim / Language(s): German

Keywords: Public law; education; education concepts; religious education; Europe;

„Ich bin der Meinung, dass Religionsunterricht in unseren heutigen Zeiten eher wichtiger als weniger wichtig ist.“ Das sagte Frau Dr. Angela Merkel zu Anfang des Jahres bei einem Vortrag zum Thema „Verbundenheit in offener Gesellschaft: Pluralität und Identität – Herausforderung und Chancen“. Ein säkularer Staat bietet Religionsunterricht an, Religionsunterricht in einer Gesellschaft, die stolz ist auf Religionsfreiheit – ist das sinnvoll? Es gibt eine Reihe von Argumenten gegen Religionsunterricht: So wird behauptet, dass Religionsunterricht die Schulen spalte; ebenso wird behauptet, dass Religionsunterricht indoktrinierend sei und dass Religionsunterricht nicht wissenschaftlich gesichert sei. Ist Religionsunterricht gefährlich oder im besten Falle Zeitverschwendung? Bevor man diese Thesen diskutiert, lohnt sich ein Blick auf die tatsächliche Situation in den Schulen Europas: Die Frage, was unterrichtet werden soll, und wie die Schule angelegt ist, das wird schon seit Jahrzehnten reflektiert, und diese Überlegungen sind in die Konzeptionen des Religionsunterrichtes in Europa eingeflossen: Es gibt nicht den einen Religionsunterricht, vielmehr ist die Konzeption des Religionsunterrichtes abhängig von den gesellschaftlichen, demographischen und historischen Voraussetzungen in den einzelnen Ländern. Im Folgenden werde ich einen Überblick geben über die Organisation des Religionsunterrichtes in verschiedenen Ländern Europas. Die Auswahl dieser Länder hat folgende Gründe: Frankreich ist das Land mit der längsten säkularen Tradition. Das Konzept der Laïcité hat die französische Gesellschaft und die Schule seit rund 150 Jahren geprägt. Der Umgang mit Religion in der Schule hat sich in Frankreich in auffälliger Weise geändert, ohne das Konzept der Laïcité direkt aufzugeben. Belgien und die Niederlande haben eine längere gemeinsame Geschichte; seit der Trennung der Länder im Jahr 1830 sind sie jedoch sozial und schulpolitisch unterschiedliche Wege gegangen. Diese Unterschiede zeigen sich bis heute in der Stellung des Religionsunterrichtes. Großbritannien und Norwegen sind Länder, in denen eine Verbindung zwischen dem Staatsoberhaupt und einer Religionsgemeinschaft besteht: Die Kirche von England hat als Oberhaupt die Queen, die norwegische protestantische Volkskirche hat sich erst 2017 vom Staat getrennt. Tschechien ist ein Land mit einer eigenen Geschichte der Religion und des Verhältnisses zur Religion; durch politische und gesellschaftliche Prozesse ist Tschechien heute ein Land mit einem besonders hohen Anteil an Konfessionslosen. Deutschland ist das Mutterland der Reformation, seit der Zeit waren zwei Konfessionen von Bedeutung. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg waren diese Kirchen sehr am Aufbau der Bundesrepublik Deutschland beteiligt und halfen diesem Neuen Staat zu Stabilität und Zusammenhalt. Auch der Religionsunterricht ein dabei ein wichtiges Element. Mit dieser Auswahl an werden unterschiedliche Traditionen und demographische Verhältnisse in Europa abgebildet, daran lässt sich erkennen, wie die Konzeption des Religionsunterrichtes von diesen Voraussetzungen abhängt.

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Frequency, reasons and challenges of constitutional changes on the example of the five states formed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia - useful experiences for the Republic of Serbia

Učestalost, razlozi i izazovi ustavnih izmena na području bivše Jugoslavije - korisna iskustva za Republiku Srbiju

Author(s): Miloš B. Stanić / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: constitutional amendments; frequency; reasons; challenges; Serbia; former Yugoslavia; comparative;

As it is important for a country to adopt a new constitution, its constitutional amendments are also of great importance. They are especially significant, because it is necessary for the constitution to adapt to the social reality in a timely fashion. As a matter of fact, Constitution of the Republic of Serbia during 11 years of its validity has not been amended yet, although it was pointed out by the experts that constitutional changes are necessary. Lately, it is quite certain that the amendments will come and, first and foremost, within the process of Serbia's accession to the European Union. It is my intention, through the study of constitutional amendments within countries of the former Yugoslavia that have certain similarities with Serbia, to find a certain pattern during this process, and also to discover some problems that could arise during the process of the upcoming constitutional changes. This knowledge could in the future gain an importance, when at one time in the future it comes to the constitutional amendments in Serbia.

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Revision of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia in the light of the internationalisation of constitutional law

Revizija Ustava Republike Srbije u svetlosti internacionalizacije ustavnog prava

Author(s): Tijana Šurlan / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; Constitution; Republic of Serbia; revision; internationalisation; human rights: EU;

Main thesis of the paper is that in the realm of law there is an ongoing process of the internationalisation. Internationalisation as a process can produce certain influence during the process of the forthcoming revision of constitution of Republic of Serbia. Within this paper, influence of the international law toward constitutional law is analysed in two aspects – as a factual internationalisation and as a normative internationalisation. Factual internationalisation is based on the already created normative internationalisation and in this paper it is studied through the work of the international organisations. Normative internationalisation that is embedded within the actual Constitution, presents the starting point for the analysis of existing concept and as a ground for the rethinking of the possible revisions. Goal of the paper is to provide deep analyses with the purpose of offering new approach for the forthcoming revision of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.

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Informal change of the Serbian Constitution – between necessities, evolution and abuse

Neformalne promene Ustava Republike Srbije – između nužnosti, evolucije i zloupotrebe

Author(s): Savo Manojlović / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; Constitution; Republic of Serbia; changes; formal; informal; practices; abuse;

Every constitution has formal and informal life. Amendments are the instrument for formal change. On the other hand, constitutional customs and practices, Constitutional court reviews and judicial practices can de facto change a constitution. Informal change is the change in which the main institutions understand the meaning of a Constitution over a period of time. According to the constitutional text, those changes can be secundum constitutionem, praeter constitutionem and contra constitutionem. Those changes also can be a consequence of necessities, a chance for constitutional evolution or a product of abuse. In this paper, the author analyzes the examples of these three types of informal change. A missed opportunity for an evolutionary change was the incompatibility of the functions of president of the state and president of political party. Constitutional court decisions which established the principle of free parliamentary mandate dismissed constitutional provisions, because that was the only way for reestablishing one of the basic principles of modern constitutionalism. At the end, the Constitutional law which was the base for the illegal reelection of all judges was a typical example of abuse of informal change and constitutional deception.

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The Constitution-making and the Amendment procedure in Post-communist Serbia – Balance and Perspective

Ustavotvorne i revizione procedure u postkomunističkoj Srbiji – bilans i pogled unapred

Author(s): Vladan Petrov / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; Republic of Serbia; postcommunism; Constitution; amandment procedure; 2006;

Both modern Serbian constitution, the first one from 1990 and the second one from 2006, are characterised by highly strong formal rigidity. The legitimization of that strong rigidity was found in the constitutional function of protection – in the first case, to prevent Serbia from the negative effects of disintegrative process in the Second Yugoslavia; in the second, to protect the territorial integrity of Serbia related to Kosovo and Metohija. The author considers that it is a false argument. The main reason of strong constitutional rigidity of both constitutions is the prevailing concept of constitution as a political instrument used by different serbian political elites aiming to save their ruling positions as much as possible. The highly complex amending procedure is not a pure tehnicallity. It could serve as one of the most effective instrument for conservation a political regime in power. The author pays special attention to the amendment procedure in the Constitution of 2006. He considers that the amendment procedure, as a rule, should be concentred (and finished) in the National Assembly. The obligatory constitutional referendum should be preserved as an exceptional tool in relation with amending the fundamental principles of the Constitution (for example, those which form the concept of legal state or the rule of law).

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Constitutional Review and Minority Rights - in which merit is the revisionist authority free to change the special rights of minorities in the constitution of the Republic of Serbia?

Ustavna revizija i manjinska prava - u kojoj meri je reviziona vlast slobodna da menja posebna prava manjina u ustavu Republike Srbije?

Author(s): Tamás Korhecz / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; Republic of Serbia; constitution; minorities; human rights; special rights; changes; revision;

Basic hypothesis of this paper is that minority rights become an element of the constitutional identity of Serbia, they become a basic constitutional value protected by the Constitution. Seven decades long constitutional tradition of Serbia, wide political consensus about the constitutional recognition of minority rights, some Principles of the Constitution all support this hypothesis. Consequently, these special rights are now part of the constitutional identity of Serbia, special constitutional value limiting authority amending the constitution in future. This limitation means that constitutional amendments shell not cease minority rights in the Constitution or substantially limit their basic content. This limitation includes all constitutional minority rights guaranteed in Articles 75-81, but particularly those protected and implemented in practice. Particular function in the protection of constitutional identity from amendments ruining the constitution is on the Constitutional Court. This court, although without constitutional competence to annul unconstitutional constitutional amendments have various means to protect basic constitutional values threw interpretation of constitutional provisions.

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Constitutional rigidity and aporias of the amendment procedure in the Republic of Serbia

Ustavna rigidnost i aporije revizione vlasti u Republici Srbiji

Author(s): Darko Simović / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; constitution; revision; Republic of Serbia; rigidity; 2006; amendment; practices;

Although not characteristic of post-socialist states, Serbia is distinguished by strong constitutional rigidity. Aside from the adoption of the new Constitution in 2006, there have been no attempts made to revise the constitution since the first post-socialist constitution from 1990. The author aims to identify the reasons for constitutional rigidity in the first part of this paper. In the authors’ opinion, there are five relevant factors: the unresolved statehood issue, the primarily protective function of the Serbian post-socialist constitutions, authoritarian constitutional tradition, explicit formal rigidness of the constitution; and informal amendments to the constitution. The second part of the paper deals with the theory of rational amendment procedure in transitional societies. In the third part, the author analyses the amendment procedure as foreseen by the 2006 Constitution and identifies its shortcomings. The main flaw being that the framers of the constitution did not rationally utilize the escalating amendment rules, because the majority of the constitutional provisions are amended by way of the more difficult proceedings, which involve voting in a citizen’s referendum. The basic conclusion of this paper is that the amendment procedure must be changed, for the escalating system to be maintained, but for constitutional matter to be established logically and precisely as to which would be amended using the general and which, the more difficult amendment procedure and to clearly identify the fundamental core, or better said identity of the constitution.

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The basic structure of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and the dilemma of a possible restriction of revisionist authority

Osnovna struktura Ustava Republike Srbije i dileme o mogućem ograničenju revizione vlasti

Author(s): Vladimir Mikić / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; constitution; structure; Republic of Serbia; revision; authority; limitation; amendment;

The article, by taking into account the basic structure of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, examines possible amendments to it in the light of review procedure restrictions and its potential change. Since the constitutional system of Serbia has no provisions that cannot be subject to constitutional review, it is important to determine whether the existing limits of the review are appropriate in substance and form. It is suggested that the sheer number of provisions that can only be altered by an on obligatory referendum appears to reflect an overreaching approach of the constituent power, aiming to establish a more difficult way for amending almost three-quarters of the constitutional text. The conclusion of such procedural inadequacy is supported by examination of the content of many of those norms, which appear to be of no special significance for the constitutional identity, and therefore, ought to be changed via regular procedure, i.e. by the parliament, and not in the way that would necessarily include citizens' direct approval of the amendment. The author therefore makes a concrete proposal for amending the existing framework of constitutional review in Serbia.

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Immediate participation of citizens in the process of changing constitution

Neposredno učešće građana u postupku promene ustava

Author(s): Maja Nastić / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; constitution; citizens; changes; amending process; amendment; legal instruments; Republic of Serbia;

Bearing in mind the announced changes of the Constitution of Serbia, the focal point of this paper is the role of the citizens in this process, namely the possibilities and legal instruments that are available to citizens in the amending process. The Constitution of Serbia (2006) emphasizes at the outset the role of the citizens. Sovereignity is vested in citizens who exercise it through referendums, people’s initiative and freely elected representatives. (art. 2). People’s initiative authorizes the certain part of electorate to initiate the procedure for amending the Constitution. The initiative for amending the Constitution of Serbia may be submitted by at least 150,000 voters. This makes the role of citizens more difficult than it was in the previuos Constitution (1990). When we have in mind the relevant provisions contained in law, the realization of this right is additionally hampered by short deadlines and additional obligations of initiators. The role of the citizens in the process of amending constitution is more prominent when it comes to the referendum. The Constitution of Serbia recognizes mandatory and optional referendum. Although the Constitution narrows the possibilities for issuing a compulsory referendum, it is required for all the most important issues. But, the most important novelty that the Constitution brings about is the adoption of a decision. The amendment to the Constitution shall be adopted if the majority of voters who participated in the referendum voted in favor of the amendment. In this way, it is much easier to amend the Constituton than it used to be. In the upcoming referendum, it is very important to adhere the Recommendation made by Venice Commission in order to achieve the real will of citizens and not to manifest the manipulative potential of the referendum. We can conclude that direct participation in amending the Constitution is much more difficult in the existing Constitution, than it used to be. The Constitution (2006) significally raised the therehold for submitting people’s initiative and it could be amended (in some specific parts) only by voting in the National Assembly. These solutions have weakened the position of citizens in terms of thier direct participion in the amending Constitution.

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Constitutional changes in Montenegro in the context of the upcoming revision of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia

Ustavne promjene u Crnoj Gori u kontekstu nastupajuće revizije Ustava Republike Srbije

Author(s): Petar Šturanović / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Public law; Constitution; changes; revision; Montenegro; 2013; Republic of Serbia;

The author in his work analyzes the need for revision of the Constitution of Serbia under the influence of the negotiation process with the European Union. He points to the shortcomings of the present Constitution so stylistically and in terms of the core. Comparing the experience of Montenegro, which is in similar circumstances changed its Constitution, the author indicates possible failures and errors. Critically reflects on the specific solutions provided by constitutional amendments in the Constitution of Montenegro, as well as the manner in which the revision was carried. Paid special attention to the constitutional changes relating to appointment procedures of the Supreme State Attorney and the judge of the Constitutional Court, assessing these solutions as experimental and deeply flawed. The need for new constitutional revision in that section is an arguments that the previous solutions were not appropriate. By supporting certain stylistic adjustments provided for under the constitutional changes, as well as solutions that have contributed to the autonomy of the judiciary, the author draws attention to issues that are not be subject to constitutional changes, and where there is a need for it.

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Autonomy of the University in the light of the Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Autonomija univerziteta u svjetlu Okvirnog zakona o visokom obrazovanju u Bosni i Hercegovini

Author(s): Sifet Kukuruz / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Public law; education; education system; higher education; university; law; framework; autonomy;

This paper deals with the notion of institutional autonomy of higher education institutions and the concept of academic freedom in the light of relevant international documents, state practice in the European Higher Education Area and the Framework Law on Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The author's position is that, for understanding these concepts in the Bosnian Herzegovinian public sphere, there is a reductionist and tendentious approach that is neither based on official international documents that deal with higher education nor on legal texts that define and elaborate these concepts. The author points out that these concepts are addressed within the limited consideration of few dimensions or even through the analysis of certain fragments of some of the four dimensions of the autonomy of higher education institutions. The text points to all the harmfulness of the reductionist approach to the understanding of these concepts. Within the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina public discourse, author pays a special attention to the analysis of the structure and competencies of the management structure which is perceived as one of the segments of institutional autonomy of higher education institutions in the public discussions. Upon these analyses a number of conclusions have been drawn related to the degree of institutional autonomy of the university and the achieved degree of academic freedom. These conclusions serve furthermore as a base for the critical attitudes in relation to the normative decisions created by the relevant education authorities in B&H. In this regard, the paper emphasizes the complexity of the notion of institutional autonomy of higher education institutions altogether with a clarification of the four dimensions of this term and defining the indicators upon which the basis of each of the four dimensions of autonomy is presented in the light of practice in EU institutions. In the context of the social significance of higher education, the paper attempts to point out the significant social need for a correct understanding of the notion of institutional autonomy of higher education institutions and academic freedoms that must be based on international documents and relevant legal texts in B&H.

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Law on Higher Education of the Tuzla Canton: an adequate legal basis for the realization of academic freedoms and the principles of university autonomy?

Zakon o visokom obrazovanju Tuzlanskog kantona: adekvatan pravni osnov za realizaciju akademskih sloboda i principa univerzitetske autonomije?

Author(s): Dženeta Omerdić / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Public law; constitution; BiH; Tuzla Canton; education; university; freedoms; autonomy;

Oblast visokog obrazovanja na području Tuzlanskog kantona (TK) u posljednju godinu dana pretrpjela je niz bitnih normativnih promjena. Naime, u junu 2016. godine, na prijedlog Vlade Tuzlanskog kantona, Skupština TK donijela je Zakon o visokom obrazovanju (ZVO TK) . Kao razlozi za donošenje novog Zakona (a ne izmjenu postojećeg) navedene su "nejasnoće", te "pravne nedorečenosti" vezane za primjenu ranije važećeg pravnog propisa. Nadalje, naglašeno je da se ranijim izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o visokom obrazovanju odstupilo od Okvirnog zakona o visokom obrazovanju u Bosni i Hercegovini, na šta je, između ostalog ukazivalo i Ministarstvo civilnih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine . S tim u vezi, pozivajući se na član 24 stav 1 tačka c) Ustava Tuzlanskog kantona , Skupština Tuzlanskog kantona je na sjednici održanoj 06. juna 2016. godine donijela Zakon o visokom obrazovanju, koji je prve izmjene i dopune "pretrpio" već u septembru iste godine, što je u (ne)akademskim krugovima izazvalo mnogo polemike. Posljednje izmjene i dopune Zakona o visokom obrazovanju učinjene su u martu tekuće godine. Sadašnje normativno uređenje oblasti visokog obrazovanja na području Tuzlanskog kantona ukazuje na određene nedostatke koji u najvećoj mjeri utiču na realizaciju akademskih prava i sloboda predstavnika akademske zajednice (i samih visokoškolskih ustanova), ali i na kvalitet cjelokupnog obrazovnog procesa. Nadalje, neusklađenost kantonalnog ZVO TK sa Okvirnim zakonom o visokom obrazovanju u Bosni i Hercegovini rezultiralo je brojnim nedostacima koji se prvenstveno odnose na različito "zakonsko tretiranje" javnih i privatnih visokoškolskih ustanova koje djeluju na području Tuzlanskog kantona; imenovanje i izbor organa javnih visokoškolskih ustanova, te brojne nedosljednosti i kontradiktornosti vezane za realizaciju nastavno-naučnog procesa.

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Challenges and Perspectives of Higher Education Reform in Canton Sarajevo

Izazovi i perspektive reforme visokog obrazovanja u Kantonu Sarajevo

Author(s): Mirza Hebib / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Public law; constitution; education; education system; higher education; reforms; autonomy; BiH; Canton Sarajevo;

The article „Challenges and Perspectives of Higher Education Reform in Canton Sarajevo“ is intended for academic community and all interested in higher education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The article is limited to the normative and institutional analysis of legal issues in the higher education system in Canton Sarajevo, focusing on the challenges and perspectives of the current reform. Issues regarding the organization, academic autonomy and academic selfgovernance are specially analyzed. The new normative framework for higher education represents a major challenge for the government. The views of the government and university representatives are very different. For the cantonal government, as a promoter, the new law introduces new positive and reformative measures, such as financial integration and improvement of quality of the education process. The Academic Community believes that this Law is contrary to the B&H Framework Law on Higher Education and that it derogates principles of academic autonomy, academic selfgovernance and academic freedom. In the article special attention is directed to University of Sarajevo, as the oldest and largest institution of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose position, organization and functioning is the backbone of the proposed law.

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Analysis of the Higher Education System in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Analiza sistema visokog obrazovanja u Bosni i Hercegovini

Author(s): Mehmed Bećić / Language(s): Bosnian

Keywords: Public law; constitution; education; higher education; education system; BiH; analysis; accreditation; Bologna system;

Die Frage der gesetzlichen Regelung des Hochschulwesens in Bosnien-Herzegowina ist Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit. Es handelt sich hierbei um eine Analyse des normativen Rahmens, die sich insbesondere mit dem Hochschulrahmengesetz Bosnien-Herzegowinas im Kontekst der Bologna-Reform befasst. Der grösste Teil der Arbeit beschäftigt sich sich mit der Organisation, der Autonomie und dem Akkreditierungs-Prozess der Hochschulen in Bosnien-Herzegowina. Seit 2003 ist Bosnien-Herzegowina im Europäischen Hochschulraum einbezogen. Das Hochschulwesen des Landes ist in allgemeiner Weise durch das Hochschulrahmengesetz (2007) geregelt, auf dessen Grundlage dann die neuen Gesetze in den zehn Kantonen der Föderation Bosnien-Herzegowinas, in der Republika Srpska und im Brčko distrikt Bosnien-Herzegowinas erlassen worden sind. Das Hochschulrahmengesetz wird in der Arbeit aus zwei Blickpunkten analysiert: erstens, als Mittel zur Teilung der Kompetenzen zwischen dem Staat und den unteren staatlichen Ebenen (Kantonen, Republika Srpska und Brčko distrikt); und zweitens, als normatives Instrument zur Harmonisierung der Hochschulgesetze im Prozess der Einbindung Bosnien-Herzegowinas in den Europäischen Hochschulraum (Bologna-Prozess). Die Analyse des normativen Rahmens des Hochschulwesens zeigt, dass es in BosnienHerzegowina ein einheitliches Hochschulwesen nur in dem Ausmaß gibt, wie es das Rahmengesetz und der Bologna-Prozess harmonisiert hat. In diesem Sinne kann man sagen, dass es in Bosnien-Herzegowina 12 Hochschulsysteme gibt, die mit dem Rahmengesetz und der Bologna-Reform grundsätzlich im Einklang stehen. Zur Steigerung der Qualität des Hochschulwesens in Bosnien-Herzegowina empfiehlt es sich besonders ein höheres Maß an Koordination und Harmonisierung auf staatlicher Ebene (oder wenigstens auf Ebene der Föderation B-H) einzuführen.

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Single Supreme Court for BiH?

Jedan vrhovni sud za BiH?

Author(s): / Language(s): Bosnian,Croatian,Serbian

Keywords: Public law; judiciary; constitution; Constitutional court; Supreme Court; BiH; necessity; jurisdiction; government; entities; FBiH; RS; reform; EU; EU accession;

Pitanje iz naslova bi se u svakoj evropskoj državi shvatilo kao lakrdijaška pravna dosjetka. U Bosni ono ne stvara reflekse osmijeha; pitanje je ozbiljno i prate ga dramatična upozorenja. Tema je unekoliko izlizana političkim parolama i medijskim eskponiranjem političkih pozicija. No, stručni krugovi (sudije, tužioci, advokati i državni službenici) i akademska zajednica (saradnici univerzitetskih insitucija i naučno-istraživačkih instituta) imaju jasno artikulirine stavove o ovom pitanju. Oni nisu apodiktičke prirode, nego počivaju na analizi pravnog ustrojstva BiH i iznalaze argumente u uporednom pravu, jursidikciji Ustavnog suda BiH i u pozitivnom ustavnom pravu.

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