Horizontal Facility - News
Initial Screening for prisoners with mental health disorders successfully piloted in Albanian prisons and remand facilities
With support from the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Albanian Prison Service has rolled out an Initial Screening for prisoners with mental health disorders as a health care priority from day one of their admission. The new approach, launched in March 2026, with a capacity-building...
New Guide helps journalists in North Macedonia recognise and respond to SLAPP-s
Journalists and media professionals in North Macedonia now have a practical guide to help them recognise, prevent and respond to Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), strengthening their ability to protect freedom of expression and continue reporting on matters of public...
Future lawyers in the Western Balkans take on digital violence against women
“Violence knows no borders, but neither does our empathy.” The words of one participant capture the spirit of this year's Regional Summer School in Trebinje better than any programme agenda ever could. Inside a simulated courtroom, 30 law students from across the Western Balkans sit before a...
Making victims’ right to compensation work in practice in Montenegro
An event dedicated to enhancing the procedural rights of victims in criminal proceedings, with a particular focus on the right to compensation, was held in Podgorica. The training brought together representatives of judicial institutions and the Bar Association aiming to provide floor for...
Senior prison police officers strengthen capacity to prevent ill-treatment in North Macedonia
Twenty-two senior prison police officers from all 12 penitentiary facilities have strengthened their capacity to prevent ill-treatment, and ensure proper reporting of incidents, contributing to greater accountability and protection of human rights in prisons. The two-day capacity building...
From listening to change inside prison treatment work
In Novi Pazar District Prison, rehabilitation work is grounded in understanding the people behind behaviour. For treatment officer Ilda Imamović, this means looking beyond actions to the stories behind them. “My job is not only to implement treatment programmes, but also to try to understand...
Authorities in North Macedonia extend their skills in supporting violent extremist prisoners during the preparation for and after release
A cornerstone of the effective reintegration of violent extremist prisoners (VEPs) and other prisoners prone to radicalisation is the efficient inter-institutional co-operation. In the efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism in line with European standards, the EU and Council of Europe...
Albania Deepens Co-operation with Council of Europe on European Court Judgment Execution
A delegation from the Albanian State Advocate’s Office participated in a study visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, aimed at strengthening institutional dialogue and advancing the effective execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgments in Albania. Organised under the joint...
Revised Code strengthens ethical journalism and media self-regulation in Montenegro
Montenegro has presented the revised Code of Journalists, strengthening ethical journalism and media self-regulation while helping the profession respond to the opportunities and challenges of today's rapidly evolving media landscape. Presented at Europe House in Podgorica, the revised Code is...
North Macedonia’s Prison Police Intervention Teams learn from Polish experience
Officers from North Macedonia’s Prison Police Intervention Teams made their first official study visit to Warsaw, exchanging experiences and best practices with Poland’s Prison Service Intervention Group (PSIG). The delegation was led by the Acting Head of the Directorate for the Execution of...
High Prosecutorial Council of Serbia developed amendments to the regulatory framework
A Working Group of the High Prosecutorial Council developed key amendments to its regulatory framework bylaws, during the last meetings in Vrdnik. The meetings, supported by EU and Council of Europe, involved discussion on identified challenges in the implementation of several bylaws of the High...
Partners review progress and priorities to strengthen property rights protection in Albania
"At the heart of the Council of Europe’s work are people: their dignity, their rights, and their trust in justice and public institutions, and this is also why the D-REX Action continues to matter." was highlighted by the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, Giulia Re, during the 5th...
Strengthening implementation of judicial evaluation procedures in Serbia
Members of the Commission for the Evaluation of the Work of Judges and Court Presidents improved their knowledge and practical skills on implementing judicial evaluation procedures during a two-day training organised in cooperation with the High Judicial Council. The training focused on the...
Legal practitioners in Albania strengthen expertise on the application of European Court of Human Rights case-law on property rights
Over 60 Albanian legal practitioners representing key justice institutions, including the State Advocate, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court and regular courts, boosted their expertise to protect property rights and support the effective execution of related judgments of the European...
New practical guidelines support judges and prosecutors in applying ethical standards in Montenegro
Montenegro has taken another important step towards strengthening judicial integrity and public trust through the adoption of practical Guidelines for the implementation of the Codes of Ethics for judges and state prosecutors. Following the adoption of the new Codes of Ethics in 2025, the...
Predsednici sudova i predstavnici pravosudnih institucija u Srbiji unapredili veštine u upravljanju sudovima
Predsednici/e sudova i predstavnici/e relevantnih pravosudnih institucija iz Srbije učestvovali/e su u aktivnosti jačanja kapaciteta organizovanoj u Beogradu od strane Vrhovnog suda, uz podršku zajedničkog projekta Evropske unije i Saveta Evrope „Jačanje pravne kulture u Srbiji i kapaciteta...
Modernising Kosovo's Prosecution System: Digital Tools for a Stronger Justice
Petrit Kryeziu, Chief of the Basic Prosecution Office in Prizren, uses the Case Management Information System (CMIS) to manage his caseload and generate the new decision templates. These decisions templates, recently integrated into Kosovo*’s judicial system, simplify and streamline prosecution...
Cognitive Behavior Therapy successfully piloted in four Albanian prisons
The European Union and Council of Europe are assisting the Albanian Prison Service in delivering the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), aimed at better preparing prisoners for release. In this framework, on 23 June 2026, an evaluation visit was conducted in Fier Prison by a team composed of a...
Free Legal Aid in North Macedonia: Achievements and priorities discussed with key actors
Main achieved milestones and future priorities in the efforts to advance free legal aid in North Macedonia were the focus of the discussion with key beneficiaries and actors in the field, during the 7th Steering Committee meeting of the EU and Council of Europe joint action “Towards a...
Pristina Pride Week Celebrates 10 Years with Motto “Resistance and Action"
The Pride Week was concluded in Pristina with a series of public activities supported by EU and Council of Europe anti-discrimination action reaffirming the commitment to equality, dignity and the protection of the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people. The launch of the Pride Week on June 1st brought...
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