Prosecutorial Council issues with announcement concerning process of appointment of chief state prosecutor

The KKP stresses that the 2022 proposal for the appointment of the chief state prosecutor has not resulted in appointment, as no presidential decree has been issued, no appointment has been finalised, and no candidate has won the right to exercise the duty of the head of state.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, the chief state prosecutor is appointed and dismissed by the president with the KKP proposal. Also, the Law for the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council stipulates the Council's responsibility to propose the chief state prosecutor and ensure the implementation of legal procedures, principles of merit and transparency.

The Council emphasises that the chief state prosecutor's position has remained without full mandate since April 2022, while duties have been exercised with task officers. This protracted situation has created institutional and legal uncertainty, affecting the functioning, efficiency and credibility of the prosecutorial system.

The need for a fair, transparent process, based on merit and developed in time, is constantly highlighted in the European Commission's reports of Kosovo for 2023, 2024 and 2025, which underline delays in meeting this position and call for a fast, transparent and merit-based procedure.

Under the EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Agreement and relevant subcommittee meetings, the European Union has stressed the need for the process of electing the chief state prosecutor to develop within reasonable terms and in line with the reform agenda and relevant recommendations.

Attitudes by International Partners, Civil Society Organisations

The KKP takes into account the public attitudes of international partners and relevant organisations, which stress the importance of a fair, transparent and merit-based process:

The European Union's office has stated that the selection process should be fair, transparent and merit-based, expressing disappointment with the disregard for these principles in previous processes and calling for improvement of institutional practices.

-The United States Embassy has stressed that the selection process should be objective, transparent and merit-based, noting that any deviation from these principles harms belief in the institutions of justice.

- The U.K. Embassy has stressed the need for a fair, transparent process and based on credit for the chief state prosecutor's position.

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany has expressed disappointment with the previous selection process and has declared that lack of transparency and meritocracy is not a way forward.

The OSCE Mission to Kosovo has stressed the importance of transparent and merit-based procedures, claiming it will monitor the selection process closely.

The KKP also takes into account the attitudes and reports of civil society organisations that monitor Kosovo's justice sector, including the IKD, GLPS, FOL, INPO and KDIovina, which have consistently called for a new, legal, transparent and merit-based process.

In particular, the March 24, 2022 Civil Society Coalition Report ( The IKD, GLPS and FOL recommended cancelling the existing process and announcing a new competition for the chief state prosecutor, stressing the need for integrity and transparency in selection.

The KKP also refers to relevant standards and opinions of the Venice Commission, which stress the importance of ensuring independence and the accountability of the prosecution, avoiding politicisation, judicial security, transparency, objective criteria and procedures based on merit, integrity and responsibility.

In this context, taking into account the lack of a final appointment, the extended period since April 2022, when the position has remained without full mandate, the need for legal security and regular institutional functioning, as well as to avoid any uncertainty about previous procedures or perception of the existence of parallel proposals with the president's president or President's Duty Leader, the KKP explains that the 2022 proposal is no longer held for the purposes of appointment by the president.

This explanation does not represent an annulment of the 2022 contest, does not prejudge any candidate, nor does it influence the right of qualified candidates to participate in the new selection procedure.

The aim of this clarification is to provide judicial security, institutional clarity and enable the development of a new, fair, transparent and merited appointment of the chief state prosecutor with a full mandate.

Kosovo's Prosecutorial Council encourages all prosecutors meeting legal conditions to apply in the new competition announced at the meeting held on May 18th 2026, which will be open until June 10th 2026 (The Decision) KPK No. 268/2026 .

The KKP will continue relevant procedures in line with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, the Law for the Prosecutorial Council of Kosovo, secondary legislation in force and fundamental principles of rule of law, institutional independence, equal treatment, transparency, meritocracy and accountability.