29 July - 4 August 2026 | Weekly Regional Briefing

This week's Balkan Legal News is led by Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the failure of the Peace Implementation Council to agree on a successor to former High Representative Christian Schmidt has exposed a rare and serious rift between Washington and its European allies over the future of international oversight in the country. In Montenegro, Toby Cadman, Head of Outline Chambers, has called for a wholesale review of cases built during the tenure of former Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, who is now himself in custody facing corruption charges. Elsewhere, North Macedonia's government faces domestic criticism over its handling of talks with Bulgaria, while Kosovo and Serbia both see fresh friction over judicial appointments and prosecutorial independence.

British lawyer calls for review of cases linked to Montenegro's former special prosecutor

Toby Cadman, the British barrister representing businessman Duško Knežević, has called on Montenegro's prosecution service to review every case built during the tenure of former Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnić, who is now himself in pre-trial detention facing serious corruption charges. Cadman noted that Interpol separately found a political dimension in both Knežević's case and that of former CIA operative Joseph Assad before cancelling Red Notices against them, and argued that any credible push toward EU membership requires a judiciary and prosecution service demonstrably free of political influence.

Source: A Plus Me Transatlantic rift deepens over Bosnia's next High Representative

The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board has again failed to agree on a permanent successor to Christian Schmidt as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, missing its own 14 July target and leaving American diplomat Louis J. Crishock in the role on an acting basis. Washington has backed Italian diplomat Antonio Zanardi Landi, while France, Germany and the United Kingdom favour French diplomat René Troccaz, with European governments warning that any premature weakening of the Office of the High Representative could embolden Republika Srpska leadership. The dispute is unfolding alongside a separate controversy over the procurement process for the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline, raising questions over its compatibility with Bosnia's EU accession obligations.

Source: European Western Balkans North Macedonia's opposition criticises government over closed-door talks with Bulgaria

North Macedonia's opposition has criticised the government for pursuing what it calls "secret talks" with Bulgaria aimed at unblocking the long-stalled EU accession process, which remains conditional on a constitutional amendment recognising Bulgarians among the country's constitutionally founding peoples. The ruling VMRO-DPMNE-led government has said it will not proceed without firm guarantees that Sofia will not block the process further down the line, a position that continues to complicate a resolution first proposed under the 2022 "French proposal" framework.

Source: Balkan Insight

Kosovo Prosecutorial Council rejects bid by Serb prosecutors to return to their posts

Kosovo's Prosecutorial Council has denied requests from several ethnic Serb prosecutors seeking to return to their posts, nearly four years after Kosovo Serbs staged a mass resignation from state institutions in November 2022. Council members cited unresolved integrity-verification concerns as grounds for rejecting the requests, while the Chief State Prosecutor acknowledged he had not yet had time to familiarise himself with the matter. The decision touches on one of the more sensitive unresolved threads of the broader Kosovo-Serbia normalisation process.

Source: Bytes Europe

European Commission flags continuing concerns over prosecutorial independence in Serbia

The European Commission's latest country report on Serbia, published on 17 July 2026, continues to flag concerns over prosecutorial autonomy following the contested judicial reform laws adopted in January. The report notes that secondments of prosecutors to the Prosecutor's Office for Organised Crime remain only partially resolved, with the Venice Commission's opinion on the underlying legislation still pending despite the changes having already entered into force. The Commission describes the reforms as continuing to hamper the effectiveness and confidentiality of criminal investigations.

Source: European Commission – 2026 Serbia Country Report