The European Union says it will continue to support the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, while declining to comment on the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK)’s initiative to amend the law governing the court and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.
The submission of the draft law by PDK to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo has also prompted questions at the European Commission.
Brussels-based journalist Ekrem Krasniqi asked European Commission spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Christian Wigand whether the Commission had considered a scenario in which the court’s Appeals Panel could order a retrial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and the three other former KLA leaders, with the case potentially being transferred to Kosovo’s regular courts in Prishtina.
Wigand said the European Commission does not comment on announcements or plans as such.
“The Specialist Chambers were established by decisions of the Kosovo Assembly in 2014 and 2015, operating within Kosovo’s legal system, and their work has been consistently supported by the EU. Their work is important for ensuring accountability and delivering justice to victims and their families from all communities in Kosovo,” Wigand said.
He emphasized that those convicted in the first-instance judgment have the right to appeal before independent appellate judges sitting on a separate Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
“Our support for the Chambers is steadfast and will remain so,” Wigand said.
Asked whether the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office could prosecute all alleged war crimes committed during the 1998–99 period, Wigand gave a brief response.
“I can only reiterate what I have said here before: regarding the first-instance judgment, the EU takes note that the Kosovo Specialist Chambers are delivering justice through fair, impartial and independent judicial proceedings, based on the principle of individual criminal responsibility,” he said.
He again stressed that those convicted have the right to appeal any such judgment.
“So I think I will leave it at that. There is nothing more to add,” Wigand concluded.
