Seitenhistorie

In Kosovo, more than anywhere else in Europe, the Rule of Law is in the making. As one of the world’s youngest democracies, a Kosovo-specific concept of the Rule of Law is still at the beginning to take shape. Similar to other post-conflict settings, a gap remains between the Rule of Law de jure and the _ Rule of Law in praxi. _ The formalistic idea of the Rule of Law on paper is not yet what it is in reality.

Since declaring independence in February 2008, Kosovo has been growing as a state. However, currently only recognized by 71 states (November 2010), the country lingers in a legal and political limbo. Recently in July 2010, the International Court of Justice ruled on the legality of Kosovo's secession. Stabilized by a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (KFOR) and an international EU law mission (EULEX), the republic is struggling with common matters of governance in transition: difficulties to access justice, corruption, parallel legal systems, and a slow judiciary.

This paper aims to capture the evolution of the Rule of Law in Kosovo and to define its current status. Moreover, the objective is to contribute to a better understanding of the “Rule of Law” in general, particularly in regard to specific normative implications in various legal systems; here, the focus is on the Balkans.

The analysis is comprised of four parts: an overview of the historical background (I.), a summary of normative provisions (II.), an assessment of the practice of the Rule of Law in Kosovo (III.), as well as a discussion of current and future challenges (IV.).

Further Reading

Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo (2008)

Council of Europe (2010): Situation in Kosovo, Information Note by the Rapporteur on his Fact-Finding Visit to Kosovo (21-26 February 2010). Rapporteur Mr Björn von Sydow. Political Affairs Committee, AS/Pol/Inf (2010) 02, 11 March 2010.

Council of the European Union (2008): COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/124/CFSP of 4 February 2008on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX KOSOVO. L 42/92-98, February 2, 2008.

Elsie, Robert (Hrsg.) (2001): Der KanunDas albanische Gewohnheitsrecht nach dem sogenannten Kanun des Lekë Dukagjini. Peja: Dukagjini Balkan Books.

European Commission (2010): Kosovo 2010 Progress Report. SEC(2010)1329. November 9, 2010.

Hoff, Karla and Stiglitz, Joseph E. (2004): After the Big Bang? Obstacles to the Emergence of the Rule of Law in Post-Communist Societies, in: American Economic Review, Vol. 3, No. 94, pp. 753-763.

INPROL (2009): Rule of Law Lessons Learned from the UN Mission in Kosovo, Literature Review.

International Crisis Group (2010): The Rule of Law in Independent Kosovo. Europe Report No. 20419, May 2010.

KDI (2010): Corruption Cases Report. Pristina: Kosovo Democratic Institute.

Linz, Juan J. and Stepan, Alfred (1996): Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation. Baltimore/ London: John Hopkins University Press.

Muharremi, Robert (2010): The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) from the Perspective of Kosovo Constitutional Law, in: Zeitschrift für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht, Vol. 70, pp. 357-379.

Strohmeyer, Hansjörg (2001): Collapse and Reconstruction of a Judicial System. The United Nations Missions in Kosovo and East Timor, American Journal of International Law Vol. 95, pp. 46-63.

Tunheim, John (2009): Rule of Law and the Kosovo Constitution, in: Minnesota Journal of International Law, Vol. 18, pp. 371-379.

United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo (2007): The Comprehensive proposal for Kosovo Status Settlement. S/2007/168/Add.1, March 26, 2007.

U.S. Embassy Pristina (2010): “Rule of Law and Kosovo”. Statement of Ambassador Christopher Dell, January 15, 2010.

Wählisch, Martin (2010): Making Kosovo’s Judiciary Work, in: ISN Security Watch (ETH Zurich), April 8, 2010.

Wählisch, Martin (2009): Internationale Organisationen als Staatsersatz?, in: Tomuschat, Christian (ed.) (2009): Weltordnungsmodelle für das 21. Jahrhundert. Völkerrechtliche Perspektiven. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlag, pp. 163-208.