European Commission Country Report with serious remarks on vetting initiated by Kosovo Government

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Gazeta Express

19/10/2021 17:35

The European Commission (EC) in its 2021 Report on Kosovo published Tuesday has concluded that the new government of Kosovo has been considering several options for a process of ‘vetting’ of the judiciary and prosecution. “In this context, the potential introduction of a one-off full re-evaluation of all prosecutors and judges is a source of serious concern,” it is written in the EC report.

“Such a process should be considered only as an exceptional measure of last resort, once all existing tools and mechanisms to ensure integrity and fight corruption of judicial officeholders have been exhausted, and should be in line with European and international standards as well as with Venice Commission advice,” the EC said in its Report.  The European Commission also stated that the overall administration of justice continues to be slow, inefficient, and vulnerable to undue political influence.

“Some progress was achieved during the reporting period. As regards last year’s recommendations, advances were made, as the Functional Review of the Rule of Law Sector resulted in the adoption of a Rule of Law Strategy and Action Plan, which outlines the main challenges in the rule of law system. Kosovo rolled-out an electronic case-management system and offset-up a central criminal records system, however challenges remain. Kosovo has made efforts to implement the Law on Mediation,” it is written in the Report. /GazetaExpress/