On 28 January 2015, Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) and Institute for Advanced Studies GAP held a Roundtable Discussion on the topic: ‘Privacy Neglected: Control of interception of telecommunications in Kosovo.’  This roundtable was organised within the framework of the project, entitled: ‘Supporting collaboration and consultation between CSOs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of European Integration in the legislative drafting and policy making processes’, an EU funded project managed by the European Union in Kosovo and implemented by GLPS and GAP Institute.

Group for Legal and Political Studies and GAP Institute were directly engaged in monitoring the levels of compliance of the Draft Law on interception of telecommunications with EU standards on privacy and security of interceptions.Both organisations have provided inclusive inputs and thorough analysis on various drafts, and have been able to influence decision-making of both, the Ministry of Eurropean Integration and Parliamentary Committee on European Integration. The right to privacy including the confidentiality of correspondences and telecommunication are fundamental rights of the citizens of Kosovo and are guaranteed by the Constitution, therefore every public institution need to be aware of this EU standard.

The Draft Law on interception of telecommunications was recently refused as incompliant with the democratic standards and send back to the Government for re-drafting in line with GLPS and GAP policy recommendations. In this context, the panelists emphasised the importance of the law on interception of telecommunications and the need for an indepth analysis of the Draft Law in order to avoid gaps and also te set proper monitoring and controlling mechanisms before the law is submitted to the Assembly for approval.

Panelists in Attendance:

 Mr. Visar Rushiti – Institute for Advanced Studies GAP;

Mr. Novitet Neziraj – Senior Legal Officer for EU Legislation, Ministry of European Integration;

Mr. Dren Doli – Group for Legal and Political Studies;

Representatives of relevant institutions;

Venue: Orion Conference Centre

Str. ‘Rexhep Luci’, No. 2, Prishtina, Kosovo