Horizontal Facility - News
Building trust in Justice: Enhancing legal consistency and transparency in Albania
Senior legal advisors and staff from the Supreme Court of Albania took part in a capacity building activity to improve how court decisions are researched and written. The goal is to make court rulings in Albania clearer, more consistent, and easier for both legal professionals and the public to...
Strengthening judicial transparency in Montenegro
In order to enhance transparency within the justice system in Montenegro, the Judicial Council and the Prosecutorial Council adopted two comprehensive action plans for the implementation of communication strategies for courts and prosecution for 2025. In tandem with these initiatives, the newly...
Police trainers in Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen human rights policing
Police trainers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are now set to deliver more effective and human rights-compliant training following a Train-the-Trainer programme held on 28-29 January 2025. The training helped 24 professionals from Police Academies improve their communication and presentation skills,...
Supporting an efficient property compensation process in Albania
As part of the ongoing efforts of the EU and Council of Europe to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Agency for the Treatment of Property (ATP) in managing the backlog more than 7000 pending property compensation claims, a two-day ‘Training of Trainers’ was held in Shkodra, with senior...
Addressing school segregation in Albania, in line with European Court judgements
Representatives of the Albanian government, local institutions and civil society organisations involved in primary education gathered in Korça to address the ongoing challenge of segregation of Roma and Egyptian pupils at the “Naim Frashëri” school. This roundtable, organised by the European...
Sofija Blagojević: A young hero championing inclusion in Serbian schools
At just 17 years old, Sofija Blagojević has emerged as an unexpected hero in the eyes of teachers and other professionals working with children. Her dedication to fostering inclusion and fighting discrimination has not only earned her recognition but also inspired those around her. "I was deeply...
Over 200 Turkish lawyers enhance knowledge on immigration detention standards
More than 200 lawyers from eight Bar Associations across Türkiye, including İstanbul, İzmir, Adana, Kahramanmaraş, Mardin, Bursa, Mersin, and Ankara, have enhanced their expertise in immigration detention standards. Through a series of cascade training sessions, they gained insights into...
HIGHLIGHTS
Horizontal Facility achievements and future success – after two years of implementation, partners and beneficiaries discuss key milestones
The EU and Council of Europe’s Horizontal Facility programme is crucial in supporting reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, helping align them with European standards in human rights, rule of law, and democracy. A cornerstone of the programme are the Beneficiary Steering Committee meetings,...
Highlights No.7
Improving legal access and human rights awareness in the Western Balkans
Notable progress was made in promoting human rights and raising awareness of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments. Law students gained hands-on experience through internships, enhancing their understanding and practical application of legal principles. Awareness-raising initiatives...
Highlights No.7
Empowering media and combating SLAPPs in the Western Balkans
Important interventions were focused on strengthening the protection of journalists, activists, and the media in the Western Balkans, with a primary focus on combatting Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) but also on advancing the role of the media in addressing key social...
Hightligs No.7
Aligning Prison and Forensic Practices in line with European standards
Recent efforts across the Western Balkans have focused on improving the treatment of individuals within the justice system, particularly those involved in forensic and prison settings. Our initiatives are aimed at aligning domestic practices with European standards in the field, ensuring better...
Hightlights No.7
Get to know the most recent publications published under the Horizontal Facility programme
In this edition of Highlights, we present the main publications produced under the framework of the Horizontal Facility III programme with an aim to enhance knowledge and bring European standards in various areas closer to the beneficiaries in the Western Balkans and in Türkiye. For the first...
Journalists, lawyers and activists join forces to fight SLAPP in Bosnia and Herzegovina
With growing solidarity and support from the Council of Europe, journalists, lawyers, and activists in Bosnia and Herzegovina are stepping up efforts to counter Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), lawsuits aimed at silencing critical voices and discouraging public interest...
Two new resource centers for democratic school culture opened in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Two more schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina have officially become Resource centers for democratic school culture. The Fourth elementary school in Brčko and the Vocational High School in Čelić have become part of a transformative initiative aimed at fostering democratic values and promoting...
Montenegro’s youth drive change with award-winning inclusive tech solutions
In a bid to make schools more inclusive and understanding, high school students from across Montenegro gathered for the "Equal Hack: Code for Equality" hackathon, developing tech-driven solutions to promote equality and respect. Maša Radulović, whose team from Nikšić clinched first place, aimed...
Landmark European Court of Human Rights’ judgments highlight urgent need for property rights' reform in Albania
The European Court of Human Rights (the Court) issued two landmark judgements on 10 and 17 December 2024 respectively, addressing persistent challenges in Albania’s property registration and restitution systems and underscoring the continued need for further reform. In the case of Ramaj v....
Lawyers in Serbia boost efforts to combat human trafficking through specialised HELP training
Twenty lawyers from Serbia have successfully completed the Council of Europe’s HELP course on Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings. The certification ceremony, held at the premises of the Council of Europe in Belgrade, marked the culmination of over two months of intensive training designed to...
Judicial Academy’s initial training beneficiaries strengthen skills to apply the European Convention on Human Rights
The joint European Union and Council of Europe action Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia and the Judicial Academy of the Republic of Serbia (JA), conducted a series of practical trainings from October until December on various Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights...
New research sheds light on impact of hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Two publications on the latest research into the nature and impact of hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina, developed under the European Union and Council of Europe’s joint programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye,” were presented today in Sarajevo. The comprehensive...
Egmont Group Strategic Analysis Course for Financial Crimes Investigation Board
Twenty-five representatives from Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) have been equipped with advanced skills to strengthen efforts against money laundering and terrorism financing, following a four-day “Egmont Group Strategic Analysis Course” organised by the Council of Europe...