The Council of Europe through its joint European Union and Council of Europe Project against Economic Crime in Kosovo* (PECK III) is supporting the authorities of Kosovo in strengthening the whistleblower protection framework.

In this respect, PECK III supported the participation of a delegation of competent institutions of Kosovo to an exchange visit on whistleblower protection and functioning of whistleblower mechanism in Ireland, on 26-27 April 2023.

Representatives of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, Ministry of Justice, Police, Basic Court of Pristina, Chamber of Commerce and private sector were hosted by the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission. 

During the visit the participants were acquainted with legal and operational challenges, practices and tools used in protecting the whistleblowers as well as in undertaking and conductions the investigation of whistleblower cases including communication with the media. Through practical examples participants broadened their knowledge on the way the internal and external reporting channels in public institutions work, what is expected from the private sector according to the legislation and the role of civil society in protection of whistleblowers. 

Additionally, the participants received a first-hand information on the case of corruption and malpractice in Irish national police in 2014 by the Irish Supreme Court Judge who was one of the judges in the Disclosure Tribunal.

The conducted visit provided an important contribution to the ongoing processes aiming at enforcing the legislation and enhancing and strengthening the internal and external whistleblower reporting channels in public and private sector. 

The Project will continue to support the authorities on strengthening the legal framework and institutional capacities in this field.

The activity was organised within the framework of the “Project against Economic Crime in Kosovo” (PECK III), jointly funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the latter.