Officials from Kosovo and the European Union have convened a meeting on 22 and 23 June 2022 to discuss developments over the past year in the areas of Justice, Freedom and Security.

The discussion took place in the framework of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), which entered into force in April 2016.

During the two-day meeting, officials exchanged views on various areas related to the rule of law, fundamental human rights and home affairs.

In all areas, the European Union and Kosovo agreed on the importance of implementing the priorities included in the European Reform Agenda and the recommendations from the Commission Report on Kosovo 2021.

Regarding the judiciary, the implementation of the strategy and action plan in the rule of law sector was welcomed.

Opinions were exchanged on accountability mechanisms for the judiciary, including the recent recommendations of the Venice Commission on vetting in the judiciary.

Both sides agreed to strive for a strengthening of integrity in the justice system by substantially improving existing remedies and possibly introducing limited integrity controls in high judicial institutions, fully in line with relevant European standards and the Venice Commission recommendations. .

The EU accepted the approval of the Concept Paper on the Establishment of the Confiscation Fund and the work on the Law on the Prosecutorial Council and called for its approval in the Assembly.

The Prosecutorial Council, while the Kosovo authorities presented their strategy to reduce the number of unresolved court cases.

The area of ​​administrative justice reform was also discussed.

The EU welcomes the new Code of Criminal Procedure and the draft law on declaration of assets, as well as anti-money laundering legislation. Both sides agreed on the need to further harmonize legislation on EU rule of law.

The parties also discussed the situation in the field of confiscation of property.

The Kosovo authorities presented the progress made in the area of ​​organized crime and corruption, in particular the progress in financial investigations.

In the field of internal affairs, views were exchanged on the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization, as well as on migration, asylum, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, return and readmission to and from Kosovo, and the link for issuing visas. Schengen according to the revised Visa Code.

Kosovo was encouraged to continue its good readmission cooperation with EU member states.

Both sides agreed that further progress in these areas is essential.

The two sides also discussed issues of police and international co-operation.

The SAA is the framework for the EU and the Kosovo administration to regularly discuss technical and political issues related to EU-related reforms.

The SAA bodies include the Stabilization and Association Council, assisted by the Stabilization and Association Committee, and the SAA Subcommittees, which cover a wide range of the EU acquis.

Meetings of SAA bodies make a direct contribution to the annual reports of the European Commission.

There are seven areas covered by the sectoral meetings of the subcommittees on Justice, Freedom and Security;

Innovation, Information Society, Social Policy, Education and Culture;

Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation;

Internal Market, Competition, Consumer Protection and Health;

Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Food Security;

Transport, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Regional Development;

Economic and Financial Affairs, Statistics.

Two other areas covered by separate group meetings are public administration reform and normalization.

The meetings of the SA Committee and the Subcommittee are co-chaired by the European Commission and Kosovo.

Each meeting results in the following jointly agreed actions to be taken by the Kosovo authorities.

/ Telegraphy /