On Wednesday 27 February, the closing conference of the Kosovo-Dutch project Promoting Integrity in the Kosovo Justice System took place in Pristina.
Justice professionals from both countries were present at this event to celebrate the project’s achievements. Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kosovo, Ms Gerrie Willems expressed words of appreciation for the joint work, but also mentioned that “This is only the first step”, adding that “the most important and crucial part of the work– full implementation of the reforms that are already initiated – is yet to come. Ambassador Willems emphasised that only sustainability of reforms and concrete improvements in the field of integrity of the justice system will lead to more confidence in the judiciary, for your benefit as prosecutors, but also for the benefit of Kosovo citizens. It will help increase the trust of the citizens in the justice system.”
The project aimed at promoting integrity within the Kosovo judiciary and the prosecution service in particular. CILC director Willem van Nieuwkerk argued how integrity is a multi-dimensional element in many organisations, and an element that demands constant attention. He underlined how important it is to formulate codes of conduct and guiding principles, adding that it doesn’t stop there. Discussing concrete cases and moral dilemmas among colleagues – not always easy – is where it gets alive.
CILC is proud that it was given the opportunity to cooperate the past years with its Kosovo partners in connecting legal experts to work on the topic of integrity. Being able to engage the right professionals to start and promote an open dialogue among peers on such an essential topic, is where CILC feels it makes a valuable contribution. This bilateral project has ended, but CILC will stay committed to assist Kosovo in its legal reform process, including the work on judicial integrity.