Kosovo and EU held the SAP Dialogue on Justice, Freedom and Security

The second part of the meeting was dedicated to fundamental and human rights and the protection and respect for the minority communities. These issues are defined as key priorities and as most challenging for Kosovo’s progress towards EU integration.

On the fight against corruption and organised crime parties exchanged views on progress and existing challenges. With regards to the fight against corruption, emphasis was on the work of institutions on delivering results, the need for improved inter-institutional cooperation and the prioritisation of corruption. On the fight against organised crime focus was on confiscation of assets and money laundering as well as fight against trafficking of human beings and narcotics. Emphasis was put on the need to develop a sustainable track record.

With regards to the judiciary parties discussed cooperation with EULEX, whereas the Kosovo authorities gave an update on the functioning of the courts, prosecutorial offices and relevant Councils, judicial reforms and enforcing of the property rights.

During the discussion on electoral reform the Commission urged the Kosovo institutions to move ahead and finalize the legal framework, in compliance with the EU recommendations and the findings of the Election Observation Mission of the last local elections.

In the area of fundamental rights, the importance of effectively implementing existing legislation and Strategies and Action Plans was underlined. Parties agreed that awareness raising campaigns, also on local level, are very important as well as coordination between national and local level.

As regards, protection of and respect for the minority communities it was assessed as important to prioritize actions in the Actions Plan for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities, for those that are to be implemented during 2014 as well as to develop policy commitments for the period of up to 2020. Budget for actions needs to be secured.

The SAP Dialogue meeting on Justice, Freedom and Security, the conclusions of which will feed into this year’s Progress Report, is organised together with the Ministry for European Integration.

Background information

– The SAP Dialogue is the framework for the EU and the Kosovo administration to regularly discuss technical and policy issues in relation to the European agenda. The meetings provide direct input into the European Commission’s yearly progress report. 

– The SAP Dialogue monitors and accompanies Kosovo’s delivery on reforms, in particular with regard to the priorities defined in the European Partnership, and identifies how the EU can assist in this process. 

– There are seven areas covered in sectoral meetings and they follow closely the format of the dialogue that the EU has with other candidates and potential candidates. The sectoral meetings are on Justice, Freedom and Security; Innovation, Information Society, Social Policy, Education and Culture; Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation; Internal Market, Competition, Consumer and Health Protection; Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Food Safety; Transport, Environment, Energy, Regional Development; Economic and Financial Issues, Statistics. 

– Sectoral and plenary SAP Dialogue meetings are co-chaired by the European Commission and the government. Each meeting results in jointly agreed follow-up actions to be taken by the Kosovo authorities. A plenary meeting, where the reform priorities will be discussed, is expected to take place in July 2011. The conclusions from the meetings you can find at the website of the EU Office in Kosovo.