The joint European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility II programme came to an end, opening a new third phase, which will allow beneficiaries to forward the ongoing reforms in the Western Balkans and Türkiye and further advance compliance with European standards, including where relevant those within the framework of the European Union enlargement process.
A fundamental instrument for capacity development, technical assistance and expertise, as well as awareness raising, the programme provided substantial support in key areas of joint interests, including the efficiency and independence of the judiciary; fight against corruption, organised crime and economic crime; freedom of expression and media; and anti-discrimination and protection of the rights of vulnerable groups.
In Albania, in order to fight corruption, the programme contributed to the operationalisation of the electronic System of Declaration of Assets and Conflict of Interests, an important step forward in the fight against corruption and economic crime.
The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Policy Recommendation with a Roadmap for Improving Inclusive Education to bolster the quality of education for all in line with European standards.
The court users in Kosovo* can submit online requests for criminal record certificates, a key milestone in the justice reform and the digitalisation efforts of the justice system!
In Montenegro the free legal aid system was promoted through the awareness-raising initiative #TellTheWholeStory, encouraging victims to use their right to legal aid and ensuring better access to justice for vulnerable groups.
In North Macedonia a Helpline established with the support of the programme, is providing direct assistance and help to LGBTI persons.
Progress was made in Serbia with the long-awaited Law on missing babies which would help to clarify the fate of children whose parents fear they might have been stolen from birth clinics.
In Türkiye more than 1200 authority representatives were trained to combat trafficking in human beings, ensuring a more efficient protection of victims and fight against trafficking in the future.
Important legislative and policy advice was provided to beneficiaries in the region. The authorities received expertise in two ways: through the programme's actions when the query fell into their scope of intervention, or through the Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism (ECM). Under the programme’s actions, expertise was provided around 170 times per year. The ECM is a tool for the provision of legislative and policy advice for matters falling under the umbrella of the programme but not under its actions. It oversaw the requests for expertise to the Venice Commission and other Council of Europe bodies and under the programme's second phase this mechanism addressed 31 requests from Beneficiaries.
The third phase of the Horizontal Facility has started. It will build on the achievements from the two previous phases and contribute to the ongoing reforms in all the Beneficiaries by ensuring sustainability and progress. It will run until 2026 and will continue supporting Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia as well as Türkiye in their reforms paths, while having an important regional dimension. The Expertise Co-ordination Mechanism will remain an important part of the programme available to all Beneficiaries.
The Horizontal Facility III actions within their implementation are designed to provide support to local actors in the process of ongoing tailored reforms. It will contribute to deepen institutional change, advance community development, and strengthen the sustainability of ongoing reforms in all the Beneficiaries with the aim to ensure equal rights for all the people in line with European standards.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
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