Integrity and Independence of Police and Prosecution in the Western Balkans

This panel session will explore the critical issues affecting the integrity and independence of criminal justice institutions in the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on law enforcement and prosecution. The session will present the latest findings from the forthcoming publication, which will be available by the time OC24 takes place, offering a comprehensive overview of the region's challenges and advancements. A regional expert from the police component will kick off the session by discussing regional observations and crosscutting themes prevalent across the Western Balkans. These topics include political pressure, lack of national and international cooperation, and other systemic issues affecting law enforcement, such as links to organized crime. Following this, a national expert from the police component will present a detailed case study from one of the WB6 countries, illustrating specific challenges and successes within that country’s police. This format will then be repeated for the prosecution component, with another regional expert covering the regional findings, and a national expert providing insights and case studies that highlight the current state of prosecutorial independence and integrity in a different WB6 country.