Munich, 18 February, 2023
With the Executive Director of Europol, Catherine De Bolle, in Munich, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti discussed the cooperation between law enforcement institutions and Europol and Kosovo’s success in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
During the last two years, the Kosovo Police has conducted 854 police operations, where 3202 people have been arrested, of which 301 are state officials. In two years of government, a total of 1.8 tons of narcotic substances have been confiscated, of which 400 kilograms in 2021, as a result of the joint operation with the American DEA and the Italian and Albanian authorities, highlighted the Prime Minister.
Our country has risen to 20 places in the last two years in Transparency International’s corruption perception index, to 17 places in Reporters Without Borders’ Media Freedom index, and for the second year in a row it was ranked first in the Western Balkans for as for the rule of law according to the World Justice Project, the Prime Minister underlined.
He said that there can be no sustainable development without the rule of law, and expressed the will and readiness for more cooperation with Europol against organized crime, with an emphasis on the fight against smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking and cyber security.
The Executive Director of Europol, De Bolle, expressed her satisfaction with the agreement signed in 2021 between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Europol, which enables Kosovo to appoint an officer of the liaison office at Europol and creates a secure communication channel and exchange of information. Also with the participation, cooperation and contribution of the Kosovo Police in joint activities with Europol and EMPACT. With the latter, Mrs. De Bolle emphasized that cooperation has quadrupled.
Last modified: February 20, 2023