On Tuesday 24 October, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service welcomed implementation of an agreement on justice between Serbia and Kosovo that same day. The agreement was initially to have come into force on 17 October (see EUROPE 11885).
"Today's integration of judges, prosecutors and administrative staff into the Kosovo judiciary marks the implementation of the justice agreement reached in February 2015 under the EU-facilitated dialogue" (see EUROPE 11250), the spokesperson said in a press release. Serbian press agency Beta says 40 judges and 13 prosecutors from minority communities, who will work together in the courts of northern Kosovo, were signed in on 24 October.
"An integrated judiciary representative of all communities in Kosovo is a critical feature to ensure that justice is delivered, on behalf of the whole population", the EEAS spokesperson said, adding: "An integrated judiciary will allow for a uniform implementation of Kosovo law in all Kosovo basic courts and by all Kosovo prosecutors’ offices".
The spokesperson added: "a representative judiciary and a uniform implementation of Kosovo law will further rule of law as a key public service and a critical incentive for economic growth and investments". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)