The CYBERKOP Action of the Octopus Project supports authorities of Kosovo* in strengthening legal frameworks through two key activities.
On 8 October, during the workshop on regulating access to Criminal Records System (CRS) representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Judicial Council and other institutions gathered and developed a roadmap for drafting a sub-legal act in view of aligning with European standards, particularly Directive 2019/884 and the Council Decision 2009/315/JHA.
The workshop successfully outlined specific guidelines on the Ministry of Justice's access to the CRS, enhancing the capacity for swift information exchange, criminal history verification and international legal cooperation. This regulation will directly support the Ministry in handling Mutual Legal Assistance cases, extraditions and other critical judicial processes. The framework regulation produced during the workshop ensures compliance with EU norms, setting the foundation for more effective legal procedures and fostering better international collaboration.
On 9 October, the focus shifted to personal data protection, with the second workshop advancing the drafting of the Law on Personal Data Protection for Law Enforcement institutions. Key stakeholders, including the Information and Privacy Agency, Intelligence Agency and various legislative bodies, reviewed the existing legal framework and identified areas needing harmonisation with the EU Directive on the Enforcement of Law (LED). The workshop produced clear recommendations for integrating European data protection standards into domestic law.
As a result, Kosovo* is on track to develop a law that ensures law enforcement agencies handle personal data according to international best practices. This step is crucial for enhancing cross-border cooperation and further integrating the domestic legal framework with European standards, strengthening its position in the regional and global legal landscape.
*All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)
In Focus
