News on ensuring justice
Advancing legal reforms to strengthen court expert accountability in Montenegro
In a concerted effort to enhance the quality, professionalism, and accountability of court experts in Montenegro, key support [BB1] has been provided to the Ministry of Justice in drafting amendments to the Law on Court Experts, by compiling relevant European standards related to the work of...
New Codes of Ethics for judges and prosecutors in Montenegro to bolster judicial integrity
The process of drafting of new Codes of Ethics for judges and prosecutors in Montengro has been recently launched, marking an important step forward toward reinforcing ethical standards and promoting integrity across the justice system. Supported by the joint European Union and Council of Europe...
Montenegro adopts new appraisal rules for judges and prosecutors to enhance transparency and merit-based evaluation
In a landmark move towards strengthening the rule of law and promoting professional excellence within the judiciary and prosecution service, the Judicial Council and the Prosecutorial Council of Montenegro have recently adopted new rules governing the appraisal of judges and prosecutors. The new...
State Cadastre Agency in Albania strengthens communication efforts to better serve citizens
In order to address a core institutional need of the State Cadastre Agency (SCA) to ensure that citizens consistently receive clear and helpful communication, a workshop was organised in Tirana with the support of the EU and Council of Europe. More than 45 staff from the Agency and its regional...
Albanian women’s prison to pilot trauma-informed therapy
The European Union and Council of Europe continues to assist Albanian prison service to introduce Trauma-Informed Therapy (TiT) in Pojska, Albania’s only prison for women offenders. Following earlier advanced training on TiT for Pojska prison psycho-social staff and representatives of the...
Venice Commission provides legal opinions for the authorities in Montenegro and North Macedonia
The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM), a system established under the joint European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility III programme, continues to provide important legislative expertise and policy advice for the beneficiaries in the Western Balkans. At its 143rd Plenary...
Strengthening IT skills in the judicial system in Albania: CEPEJ supports the development of a new learning curricula
The Council of Europe European Commission for the efficiency of justice (CEPEJ), in co-operation with the Albanian School of Magistrates, organised in Tirana a meeting on the role and use of information technologies and artificial intelligence in modern judicial systems. The importance of using...
Montenegro takes further steps to improve access to justice for victims of human trafficking
With the aim to enhance the access to justice for the most vulnerable victims, on 19 June 2025 a coordination meeting took place on development of a specialised training course for provision of free legal aid to the human trafficking victims. The initiative is part of a broader framework to...
Montenegrin prison practitioners strengthen their skills in preventing radicalisation
Representatives from correctional staff from the penitentiary -system of Montenegro enhanced their expertise and knowledge in managing, rehabilitating and preparing for release of violent extremist and radicalised prisoners, as well as other prisoners at risk from radicalisation. The 2-days...
Montenegro launches new HELP course on judicial ethics
A new HELP (Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals) course on judicial ethics for judges, prosecutors, and lawyers is being launched in Montenegro, in close collaboration with the EU and Council of Europe joint Action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing...
Montenegro’s Constitutional and Supreme Courts take part in the 10th session of the Superior Courts Network
The representatives of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Montenegro participated in the 10th session of the Superior Courts Network (SCN), held in Strasbourg on 5–6 June 2025. Bojana Bandović from the Supreme Court of Montenegro participated In the meeting online, while Ksenija Ivanović...
Constitutional Court of Montenegro deepens expertise and co-operation through Zagreb study visit
A delegation from the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, led by its President Snežana Armenko, paid an official visit to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia in Zagreb to exchange experiences and strengthen regional judicial co-operation. During the visit, the Montenegrin...
Prisons and probation services across the Western Balkans embrace tools for addressing radicalisation and violent extremism
Tools and programmes, specifically tailored to identify and prevent prison radicalisation and to help individuals disengage from use of violence, have proven to be highly effective in the Western Balkans. The prison staff recognises its reliability in identifying, diagnosing and assisting the...
From Losing Hope to Finding Legal Certainty: A Journey to Claim Your Property Rights in Albania
The small apartment on the second floor of a former communist-era building, located in a main road not far from the centre of the capital Tirana is always busy. Under the watchful eyes of concerned citizens, the officials of Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) explain procedures in a simplified...
Western Balkan judicial institutions aim for efficient judicial systems through digital transformation
Judicial institutions from across the Western Balkans joined forces in Neum to explore how digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) can modernise court systems, improve access to justice, and ensure greater transparency. Organised by the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice...
Strengthening Prison Staff Capacities to Manage Violent Extremist Prisoners in Albania
Penitentiary staff plays a key role in dealing with violent extremist prisoners (VEPs), both in terms of rehabilitation and ensuring institutional security. As part of the continuous efforts to build and strengthen the capacities of prison practitioners in Albania and ensuring long-term success...
Empowering correctional service staff to address radical influences among vulnerable youth
- Youth are particularly vulnerable to radical ideologies and violent extremism due to factors such as identity challenges, peer influence, and exposure to harmful online content, especially in the social media. The risk is especially high for the young people, already subject to correctional and...
Helping Roma community in North Macedonia with civil documentation and ensuring access to free legal aid
A series of five information sessions on focusing on the importance of civil documentation and access to free legal aid were conducted in Skopje (Shuto Orizari and Gazi Baba municipalities), Kičevo, Bitola, and Kumanovo. The activities conducted by the Macedonian Young Lawyers Association with...
Towards a sustainable training network in the prisons of Albania, through the development of local trainers
25 penitentiary staff from all prisons in Albania, including trainers in the field and experienced prison police and psycho- social staff gathered in Tirana in a 3-days capacity building activity. This is an important step forward in the process of building a network of trainers in all prisons of...
New Standard Operating Procedures in North Macedonia to ensure enhanced human rights safeguards and operational effectiveness
Prison Police officers and senior representatives of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions in North Macedonia have drafted the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Prison Police Intervention Teams. Introduced as a novelty in the 2024 amendments to the Law on Execution of...
How to ensure Free Legal Aid?
(Turkish)
(Turkish)
How to ensure Free Legal Aid?
(Albanian)
How to ensure Free Legal Aid?
(Macedonian)
Free Legal Aid Poster 
Flickr
Highlights
Restricted Page 