At the invitation of the Presidency of Cyprus, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Genc Nimoni, participated in the meeting of EU and Western Balkans Senior Officials for Justice and Home Affairs.

The meeting discussed the EU’s priorities as part of the framework of the first chapter group, focusing on the rule of law, strengthening the justice system and the protection of human rights.

In this regard, the role of digitalization in improving access to justice and increasing citizens’ trust, and the potential of using Artificial Intelligence to increase efficiency was emphasized. Discussion also included the risks that need to be addressed through legal changes and specialized training were also discussed.

Discussions on the protection of democratic values stressed significance of conducting inclusive and credible elections, in accordance with European standards, guaranteeing transparency and integrity of the electoral process, as well as the key role of civil society and the need to strengthen civic space as a pillar of a democratic society.

Among other things, deputy minister Nimoni, underlined the progress of the Republic of Kosovo in digitalization field, underlining the need for further advancement of the current system to establish a stable basis for Artificial Intelligence safe integration.

He also underlined the importance of protecting democracy through free and fair elections, as well as strengthening civil society through inclusive legislative and policy-making processes.

The meeting also exchanged experiences between the six Western Balkan countries and stressed the need to deepen cooperation, among other things. In addition, the main priorities of the upcoming Presidency, Ireland, for justice and home affairs were presented.