3 minutes agoLaws on Corruption Do Not Link to Visa Liberalisation
Periskopi(8 years ago)
(8 years ago)While European Union officials have called on Kosovo institutions to accept very seriously the recommendations for fighting corruption, Kosovo Assembly officials say the legislature is working to prosecute laws that will be a good basis for fighting corruption. European Union Office chief [...]
The chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Natalia Apostolova, days ago at the regional anti-corruption conference, has suggested to Kosovo officials “to fight corruption and organised crime, because this links directly to the issue of visa liberalisation”.
It has also counted a set of laws that Kosovo should adopt, citing the Law on Anti-Corruption Agency, the Law for Proliferation of the property of senior officials, the Law for abolishing the mandate of officials accused or convicted of corruption, as well as the new Law on additional powers for the seizure of property.
It has also cited the need to enter into force of the new Penal Code and the new penal procedure code. Apostolova has stressed that in the context of the assessment of fighting economic crime, the European Union's Council of Experts will make an assessment, which will be published at the end of the year, where it will show how much Kosovo has fought corruption.
Democratic League of Kosovo MP Arben Gashi, a member of the Commission for Legislation and oversight of the Anti-Corruption Agency, tells Radio Free Europe that the laws Apostolova has been talking about are already in the Assembly.
So I don't think they're problematic. There is nothing disturbing about these laws. Even previous laws have been assisted by the European Union. The changes that are made are not radical, and I think it's a matter of solution”, Gashi said.
Florent Spahija, legal expert from the Kosovo Democratic Institute, speaking of Radio Free Europe, expresses the opinion that the laws, which are essential to fighting corruption, the Assembly should not be hasty.
According to him, adopting the laws hastily may also result in shortcomings within them, and this may lead to revote. Similarly, it applies to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
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The criminal code and the criminal procedure code are two very key laws, for which neither Parliament nor Government should rush forward and adopt in the Assembly. I can't believe that neither the Penal Code nor the Code of Criminal Procedure could be carried out by the end of the year, since the Penal Code is in the Commission for Legislation and the working groups are being held. Then you go to first read”.
Looking at the status of the Kosovo Assembly and the opportunities they have to vote on laws, then it seems to me that it is quite a wish that all this package of laws be adopted, so that Kosovo can have all those”, Spahija said.
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The question of the possibility of Kosovo's Assembly having the quorum needed for the adoption of these laws remains questionable.
But, MP Gashi says the procedures for these laws to be sent to MPs are nearly in the end.
I don't think there's any fundamental problem. Also, these are not the condition of the European Union for visa liberalisation, and I think what Mrs Apostolova has said is an assessment of it from a different point of view and is welcome. But, we must have stable governance, in order to make proper decisions in the interest of the citizens of Kosovo and Kosovo”, Gashi stressed.
Meanwhile, Spahija estimates the laws must be adopted, but not because of the assessment the EU Council of Experts is expected to make.
The visa liberalisation process can only affect the fight against corruption. Adoption or disapproval of laws I don't believe it would have impact, because we have penal codes and we have penal code of procedure. The sides could be prosecuted before the court for misusing official office and for cases of corruption and organised crime”.
There are no obstacles to judging those people and calling them accountable. Only the efficiency of these courts and prosecutors is needed in solving these subjects. The European Union has requested this, and this Kosovo should offer it”, Spahija said.
However, of the 22 Kosovo Government ministers, 6 of them have charges from justice bodies, under various doubts such as abuse of office, possession of weapons and illegal employment.
Apostolova has demanded that officials charged with corruption leave the institutions.
