Macedonian and Kosovan* Ministries of Justice to strengthen legal cooperation in criminal matters
During the respective Minister`s formal meeting on August 25th 2021 held in Pristina, the project CSC WB organized a side event on International Legal Cooperation (ILC) between representatives of Ministries of Justice from Kosovo* and North Macedonia. Boosting the ILC implementation was already initiated during the previous project phase in 2018 and 2019, where specific recommendations to implement the bilateral agreement on ILC were defined.
The lively discussion between the representatives of both ministries of justice resulted in a fruitful exchange of views and experiences on specific updates of bilateral legal cooperation concerning judicial cooperation in criminal matters, recognition and execution of judgments and arrest warrants. Furthermore, the establishment and operation of Joint Investigation Teams (JIT) along with the practical challenges in implementation of the JIT’s was elaborated and lessons learned exchanged. The participation in European Networks (EJN and Eurojust) and the importance of the transboundary networking was highlighted as well, including the exchange on international legal cooperation in terms of cybercrime, bilateral agreements with 3rd countries – extradition of nationals and the data collection – concretely the methodology of keeping criminal records.
Providing support to bilateral legal cooperation in criminal matters of WB countries aiming at enhancing regional cooperation is one of CSC WB project`s priorities in combatting serious and organized crime.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
