The Council of Europe assisted the national authorities in the process of introducing an independent and effective external oversight mechanism (EOM) over the work of the police. Such a mechanism is of fundamental importance for the operation of democratic and accountable police service, which must be capable of dealing appropriately and proportionately with broad range of allegations against the police in accordance with the seriousness of the complainant’s grievance and the implications for the affected officer.

The request for technical assistance in introducing the EOM in the country cames from the national authorities and was supported by civil society. The need for establishment of the EOM was also stemming from a series of round tables organized under the framework of the EU/Coe JP “Capacity Building of the Law Enforcement Agencies for Appropriate Treatment of Detained and Sentenced Persons.”

The duration of the project was set at 5 months, it was expected to be completed by 30 April 2016 and the budget was EUR 130.000, including a voluntary contribution by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the amount of EUR 60.000.