28 May 2013
28/05/2013 - In a roundtable organized by the Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, the Kosovo Police, and the Municipality of Pristina, discussions were held on the prevention and combating of environmental crimes in Kosovo. The roundtable was also attended by representatives from the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Spatial Planning of the Assembly of Kosovo, the Appellate Prosecutor's Office, the Basic Court of Pristina, the Ombudsperson of Kosovo, and the Environmental Inspectorate of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. During the discussions, among other things, it was mentioned that the combating and prevention of environmental crime in Kosovo is in the initial phase of creating functional mechanisms. It was also assessed that success in preventing and combating environmental crime requires a more comprehensive engagement due to the complexity of the issues involved and the diversity of actions it encompasses.
Within the framework of the achievements so far in combating environmental crime, the establishment of the Environmental Crime Department in the Kosovo Police was highlighted, along with several activities undertaken by the Environmental Inspectorate of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure and the Kosovo Police, as well as activities under the OSCE project which involved in meetings and discussions most of the actors relevant to environmental crime. It was also emphasized that, to some extent, there is a legal basis for the prevention and combat of environmental crime, which mainly falls within the Penal Code of the Republic of Kosovo, the Law on Environmental Protection, and the Law on Nature Protection.
From the recommendations of the roundtable regarding actions that need to be taken in the future, it was assessed that the involvement of other institutions is necessary and essential, cooperation with international, regional, and global organizations is beneficial, while the implementation of projects and trainings will help strengthen capacities in this field.
Also, within the framework of activities planned for the future, a campaign was announced for raising public awareness on the issue of environmental crime, which will begin on the occasion of June 5, the International Day for the Environment.