Public Relations and Communication In late 2012, the MoI had implemented its first Communication Strategy. Recognising its importance for accountability and transparency, the Mission advised the MoI to revise this document to build on progress made in communication with citizens. The MoI decided to prolong duration of the strategy to align it with the duration of the overall MoI Development Strategy 2011-2016. Notably, the Mission’s focus was on integrating lessons learned into several reform areas, primarily in community policing. On 27 March and 10 April, the Mission organized roundtables for police, prosecutors and media representative in Belgrade and in Novi Sad, with the aim of enhancing capacities of the relevant Ministry and Prosecution staff for their efficient communication with the public in the context of criminal investigations. Representatives of the MoI, the Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office, a Dutch Prosecutor seconded to the Serbian Republic Public Prosecutor Office, representative of the Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance, representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office and journalists' associations took part in the event. These events were part of the Mission’s ExB project “Enhancing Capacities of the Serbian Police Spokespersons and Prosecutors to Communicate with the Media in the Course of Criminal Investigations”, funded by the Netherlands, with the aim to advance the existing communication practices and procedures between police spokespersons and prosecutors, and determine responsibilities in the context of criminal investigations. The project was jointly implemented by the LED and the Mission’s Rule of Law and Human Rights Department (RoLHRD). Following the roundtables, the Mission, in close co-operation with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the MoI, organized training courses in Kovilovo (6-7 June), Belgrade (19 June) and Kovacica (23-24 October). The training sessions focused on the development of basic communication skills and competences for approximately 30 prosecutors and deputy prosecutors to improve their media relations skills for providing reliable and accurate information to media and the public without jeopardizing the success of a criminal investigation. With support from national experts, participants were trained on communication techniques and tactics; the use of electronic equipment for communication purposes; the drafting of press releases; and crises communication. Participants also discussed establishing better co-ordination between police and prosecutors’ offices to ensure a more efficient and joint approach in communicating to the public the broad range of positive measures being undertaken in the fight against crime. On 20 November, the Mission organized the third and final seminar for police spokespersons and prosecutors from the Belgrade jurisdiction on the practical application of procedures for communication with the media and public during crime investigations. More than 33 participants actively examined the recommendations and provided feedback in order to finalise the Guidelines for Communication with the Public under the auspices of the revised Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). This seminar was also an opportunity to present basic novelties and principal changes envisaged by the revised CPC and to foster networking and co-operation between representatives of the MoI and the Serbian prosecution authorities that will lead towards a more efficient, professional and joint approach taken in the fight against crime. With the introduction of new legislation the prosecution and police spokespersons agreed that they would provide information to the media and public in Serbia in accordance with standards that define confidentiality of the investigation, presumption of innocence, protection of the identity of minors, protection of the identity of witnesses and injured parties and other legal and professional standards. As a part of the assistance provided to the MoI in realizing the Action Plan for the implementation of the Communication Strategy, the Mission supported printing and dissemination of promotion material addressing problems of drug abuse. The objective of this 81