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The state of corruption in Kosovo has not changed during 2023, scoring 41 points in the Corruption Perceptions Index published on Tuesday by Transparency International and ranking 83rd among the 180 countries analyzed in this organization's annual report.
Transparency International expresses concern about the lack of progress, saying that actions against corruption are still not at the height of the democratic progress that Kosovo has made in terms of free elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
"Despite ongoing efforts, reforms that are key to the independence of the justice system, such as the establishment of the vetting process and the adoption of a new law that could strengthen the integrity of the Prosecution Council, are moving at a very slow pace ", says the report.
But according to the report, what is more worrying is the lack of political will for an independence of the judicial system.
"Worse still, the government's continuous interference in court cases, reflected in the case of the dismissal of the head of the special police investigation unit, as well as the obstruction by the majority deputies of a parliamentary investigation into a suspected case of major corruption, imply that there is still no political will not to exercise control and to consolidate independent supervision", the report states.
Since 2012 when there were 34 points in the Index, Kosovo has had an improvement of 7 points.
According to the report, due to weaknesses to political pressure, the justice systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which this year has 35 points (one point more than last year) and Serbia, which has 36 (the same level as last year) in mass are largely unable to prosecute and sanction public officials who abuse their positions.
"Serbia is experiencing a democratic decline, as its autocratic government uses special laws to limit transparency in large-scale projects," the report said.
North Macedonia was rated 42 points in 2023 from 40 points the previous year, but the report notes that just as some slight signs of progress began to be felt, North Macedonia's judiciary was significantly damaged by changes made in an undemocratic manner. in the criminal code.
"The decision to reduce the penalties for abuse of official position for personal gain and to shorten the deadlines for undertaking legal procedures for suspected cases of corruption is a great favor for corrupt persons," the report states.
Although Montenegro has 46 points, one point more than last year, Transparency International says its case shows how previous state capture can have long-term consequences for institutions.
"The slow progress in proceeding with (corruption) cases and the difficulties to rebuild a functional judiciary highlight how badly the capture by the former regime and organized crime destroyed the justice system," the report states.
Transparency International says that the current government should prioritize actions against corruption and organized crime./VOA
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