In a significant step toward strengthening international judicial cooperation, Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla, and her Belgian counterpart, Annelies Verlinden, officially signed a bilateral agreement today regarding Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
The treaty is designed to modernize the legal framework between the two nations, providing law enforcement and judicial authorities with advanced tools to combat transnational organized crime and financial illicit activities.
Key Pillars of the Agreement
The agreement introduces several high-level provisions that align Kosovo’s judicial processes with modern international standards:
- Joint Investigative Teams: The treaty creates the legal basis for the establishment of joint task forces, allowing investigators from both countries to work simultaneously on complex cross-border cases.
- Asset Forfeiture: Advanced provisions are included for the freezing, seizure, and confiscation of assets derived from criminal activity, making it harder for criminal networks to hide wealth in either jurisdiction.
- Digital Evidence and Testimony: To increase efficiency, the agreement allows for the exchange of digital evidence and the taking of testimonies via secure video conferencing, reducing the need for physical travel and accelerating trial processes.
- Procedural Clarity: The document clearly defines the mechanisms for legal assistance, including the specific conditions for cooperation, applicable legislation, and the formal grounds upon which a request for assistance may be refused.
A Stronger Partnership Against Transnational Crime
Minister Gërvalla emphasized that this agreement is a testament to the friendly relations between Kosovo and the Kingdom of Belgium and represents a proactive approach to security.
“The agreement between our two friendly countries is expected, among other things, to significantly increase efficiency in fighting transnational crime. It creates a solid legal foundation for evidence exchange and asset recovery in line with the most modern international practices,” Minister Gërvalla stated following the signing ceremony.
Strategic Context
This signing comes during a busy diplomatic week in Brussels for the Kosovar delegation, following meetings with the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs. For Kosovo, bilateral treaties with EU member states like Belgium serve as “mini-benchmarks” that demonstrate the country’s readiness to integrate into the EU’s wider Justice and Home Affairs framework.
By focusing on asset confiscation and joint investigations, Kosovo is signaling to its European partners that it is serious about internal reforms and the fight against corruption—key requirements for its continued path toward Euro-Atlantic integration.
