Albanian and Kosovar* Ministries of justice unite in fighting crime
The project CSC WB organized a bilateral meeting on 15th of March 2022, in Tirana, Albania on International Legal Cooperation (ILC) matters between representatives of Ministries of Justice from Albania and Kosovo*, including the respective Deputy Ministers of Justice.
During this meeting, discussions were held on the proposed amendments by an international expert, to the finalization of the amendments to the ILC agreement. Further, both parties also discussed other bilateral matters that aim at improving the cooperation on criminal matters between the two countries.
The necessity of the amendment of the bilateral agreement is a follow up of recommendations, deriving from the bilateral meeting between Kosovo* and Albania on ILC, organized 30 – 31 January 2020. Both parties agreed that amendment of the agreement shall result in better, direct communication of the Law Enforcement Institutions (LEAs) and strengthening of cooperation and joint efforts on countering the organized crime.
Furthermore, the amendments of the existing agreement shall provide special chapters with provisions for: seizure and confiscation of assets; establishment of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs); direct cooperation between Prosecutors and Courts for the recognition and implementation of the decisions on criminal cases, etc.
Providing support to bilateral legal cooperation in criminal matters of WB countries aiming at enhancing regional cooperation is one of the priorities of the CSC WB project in countering 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.
Photo source: CSC WB
