The Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI), FOL Movement and the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) launched the project “Promoting Integrity in the Kosovar Justice System” in Pristina on 24 May 2017.
Financed by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kosovo, this project is designed to promote integrity within the judiciary and prosecution service, as well as to help strengthen their independence. By supporting these goals, the project will contribute to establishing a strong justice system which attracts more public trust.
During the launching event of 24 May, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kosovo, Ms Gerrie Willems, highlighted that by implementing this project, we will help create a better understanding of the current situation and about the existing capacities to deal with the integrity issues within the judicial and the prosecutorial systems, as well as help increase awareness about integrity issues among citizens.
“This project will open up another angle of the debate on integrity within the justice system in Kosovo. In this form we can increase the overall trust of citizens on prosecution and courts and improve the overall rule of law situation in Kosovo,” emphasized the Ambassador.
The Deputy Director of the Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), Mr Eric Vincken, added that “integrity is a concept we are faced with every day, whatever role we have to work from. It is not an issue exclusively relevant to the judiciary. Integrity also needs maintenance, permanent monitoring and mechanisms to deal with breaches, not only in Kosovo or in the Netherlands, but in any country”.
The Chair of the Kosovo Judicial Council, Mr Nehat Idrizi, said that this project serves as a conceptual framework for conducting research, analysis, recommendations and capacity building regarding the integrity in the Kosovo judicial system. “We have consistently expressed our friendly approach to initiatives aiming at the promotion of integrity and increasing public confidence in the judicial system,” he added.
The Chairperson of Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Mr Blerim Isufaj, emphasized that integrity is a vital prerequisite for the independent, impartial and professional functioning of the justice system, and according to him, any activity that aims at promoting integrity is very important for the system. “This project, carrying out qualitative and quantitative research will help us greatly in identifying the progress and challenges of the prosecutorial system, which will serve the council in making the right decisions,” he also mentioned.
The event was concluded with the ceremony of signing the memorandum of cooperation related to this project by project representatives and chairpersons of both Councils.