EULEX presents report into rule of law in Kosovo
The European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULUX) in Kosovo on Thursday released its first report on the functioning of the Kosovo rule of law institutions since the mission's deployment in Kosovo last December, which includes a number of recommendations.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, July 23, 2009
The 136-page report, submitted by the Mission Chief Yves de Cermabon, includes more than 70 far-reaching proposals that will form the focus of EULEX attention in the future.
The report is divided into four parts - police, judiciary, customs and civil society and NGOs.
The Kosovo Police (KP) was found to have a comprehensive legal structure, properly trained and sufficiently skilled staff, an adequate budget, and sufficient equipment to meet its legal objectives. There is, however, a concern about the quality of its leadership and its capacity for strategic direction, and these features are critical to the KP's success in meeting the challenges posed by organized crime and corruption.
It is also suggested that Kosovo's Customs Service should fully integrate with KP Border and the Public Prosecutor's Office to tackle cross-border crime.
Most importantly, the Public Prosecutor's Office and KP Crime Pillar must work closely together to reduce the high levels of serious crime, and actively target organized crime groups and corruption.
Compared with Kosovo Police, the criminal justice system and judiciary as a whole are considerably weaker in their ability to uphold an independent and effective prosecution and adjudication of cases, it was said in the report.
