Horizontal Facility - News
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Strengthened partnership with Albanian institutions on the road to EU accession
The Beneficiary Steering Committee meeting of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye” programme (Horizontal Facility III) highlighted the strategic importance of the European Union – Council of Europe partnership in supporting Albania’s ongoing reform efforts, particularly...
Aligning practices and advancing co-operation to strengthen post-release support for violent extremist offenders in Western Balkans
Around 40 representatives of relevant institutions and civil society organisations from the Western Balkans gathered in Sarajevo on 3 – 4 December 2025, together with Council of Europe experts, to share knowledge, strengthen co-operation, and harmonise approaches when it comes to providing...
Serbian teachers honoured for innovative lessons on democracy and human rights
Five teachers have been recognised for their outstanding lessons plans promoting democratic culture and innovative teaching methods, following the National Competition “Competences for Democratic Culture and the Cross-Curricular Approach – Application in Practice”. The winners were selected by an...
Kosovo Correction Service to integrate Council of Europe methodology for managing violent extremist offenders
Kosovo Correction Service (KCS) has taken further steps toward integrating the Council of Europe’s methodology for working with violent extremist offenders (VEOs), bringing together prison practitioners, management representatives and experts to prepare for full scale implementation across the...
Care ethics and solidarity: Rethinking how women access to justice in Türkiye
Imagine a justice system where women are met not only with legal protection, but with genuine care, shared responsibility and meaningful solidarity. This vision brought together public institutions, academics and civil society in Ankara for the roundtable meeting “From Care Ethics to Solidarity:...
Serbian youth call out inequality in environmental impacts
More than half of young people in Serbia believe that environmental degradation affects vulnerable groups the most and further brings them to the margin of the society. These groups have fewer resources and weaker representation compared to the majority of the popularion to protect themselves...
EU and Council of Europe back Serbia in promoting inclusive reforms and rights protection
Representatives of Serbian institutions, the EU and the Council of Europe gathered in Belgrade to assess ongoing results from the joint programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, highlighting collaborative efforts to support reforms and plan future priorities. The meeting...
Marking 16 Days of Activism in Albania by highlighting women’s property rights
Women and girls from the Shkoza community marked the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by learning how property rights protect dignity, security and independence. Organised by the Tirana Legal Aid Society (TLAS) with the support of the action Improving the protection of the...
Pilot courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina advance court management practices based on internal survey findings
On 28 November, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) organised a one-day workshop bringing together representatives of its eight pilot courts to discuss the implementation, analysis, and long-term sustainability of internal satisfaction surveys in Bosnia and Herzegovina....
Turkish authorities step up co-ordination to protect refugee and migrant children
Representatives from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Presidency of Migration Management, and the Ministry of National Education met in Ankara to enhance inter-agency cooperation in the delivery of protection services for refugee and migrant children. The meeting focused on...
Montenegro advances judicial reforms and strengthens victim protection, Steering Committee concluded
Montenegro continues to make progress in judicial reform and in strengthening the protection of victims’ rights, as confirmed during the sixth Steering Committee Meeting of the action “Strengthening accountability of the judicial system and enhancing protection of victims’ rights in Montenegro”,...
Ensuring access to legal support for trafficking victims in Serbia
Victims of trafficking require timely, reliable, and victim-centred legal support. A recent discussion organised by the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Ministry of the Interior examined how to further strengthen access to these services. The round-table brought together representatives...
Montenegro to boost public trust in prosecution service with new communication strategy
The State Prosecution Service of Montenegro has initiated the development of its new Communication Strategy for the period 2026–2028 and the accompanying Action Plan for 2026. This initiative, supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe’s programme “Horizontal Facility for the...
Children’s corner supported by the EU and the Council of Europe inaugurated in Idrizovo Prison
Idrizovo Prison, the largest penitentiary facility in North Macedonia, now has a dedicated children’s corner for young visitors and the families of inmates. Located in the visitors’ area, the children’s corner provides a safe and welcoming environment during family visits. Representatives of...
Visual Art Exhibition & Panel Discussion
“Let’s bring justice closer to the citizens” marked the 30th Anniversary of the membership of North Macedonia in the Council of Europe
To mark the European Day of Justice and the 30th anniversary since North Macedonia joined the Council of Europe, the Council of Europe Programme Office in Skopje with the support from the European Union, organised a public event to highlight the importance of equal access to justice for all, by...
Montenegro improves its practice in implementing decisions of the European Court
A two-day roundtable “Execution of the Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Relation to Montenegro” brought together state authorities, judiciary members, prosecutors, and other public institutions to discuss key aspects of implementing ECtHR judgments. Organised jointly by...
Sustaining democratic reforms in North Macedonia: EU and Council of Europe support public authorities to advance rule of law and human rights protection
By supporting people, local communities and institutions, the European Union and the Council of Europe are supporting North Macedonia to advance key judicial reforms and better protected human rights. This partnership continues to drive sustainable progress on the country’s European path. The...
Strengthening Judicial Responses to SLAPPs in the Western Balkans
A regional exchange on strengthening judicial responses to Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) was held in Podgorica, Montenegro, on 19 and 20 November, gathering high-level representatives of judicial academies from across the Western Balkans. The event provided a dedicated...
Enhancing the institutional response to human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation
A two-day seminar dedicated to strengthening the institutional and professional response to human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation was held on 17 and 18 November in Belgrade. The event brought together representatives of the judiciary (courts and prosecutor’s offices), the...
Advancing the judicial training system in Bosnia and Herzegovina with CEPEJ tools
Representatives of judicial training institutions and the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in Sarajevo for a two days workshop to increase efficiency and quality of judicial training programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This workshop follows an in-depth...
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