News

HAPE project organized and delivered an advanced training to Kosovo Police Water Border Control Unit (WBCU) with the support of a highly qualified French expert. The team consisted of Kosovo Border Police and Kosovo Customs in order to make the training as close as possible to real joint patrols between the two Kosovo authorities. This was the second training session provided by HAPE project following the initial training delivered in July 2025. The joint team was equipped with two powerful inflatable boats -one received through a donation and the other from criminal assets seized by police. This made it possible to conduct joint exercises between KP and Customs in real nautical environment. The final training session, lasting for two weeks and was held at Batlava Lake, where a new dedicated floating dock was also installed to support hands-on exercises during the training. The objective of the training was to enhance navigation and practical skills in waterborne joint operations. A total of 16 officers – 10 from KP and 6 from Kosovo Customs – participated to the advanced training. The training covered a wide range of essential competencies, including safe approaches and manoeuvres to surround a vessel, before taking control and conducting inspection, ensuring professional standards for waterborne patrol operations, etc. Special emphasis was placed on teamwork, situational awareness, and coordination of boats in different scenarios. Participants from both the Kosovo Police and Kosovo Customs demonstrated a strong motivation and engagement throughout the joint activities. Following these training sessions and the previous capacity building intervention provided by HAPE, the WBCU now has the capacity to independently conduct joint operations on Kosovo’s lakes. This activity reflects HAPE’s continued commitment to strengthening operational capacities and inter-agency cooperation of Kosovo law enforcement authorities, in line with European standards for border security and public safety.