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After 3 weeks of technical meetings and analysis in Kosovo among all key actors of the public safety, the Civil protection and Agencies of Emergency services and organizations, a wrap-up presentation took place in Hotel SIRIUS on the 11th of July. In presence of EU office, advisors of PM’S office, the director of EMA, representatives from ARKEP, Kosovo Police, Firefighting, Emergency Medical services, Telecom operators IPKO and VALA, Information Society Agency, Ministry of Defence (CITCEN), a comprehensive technical, operational and financial analysis was provided by the Austrian expert, Gregor JANIN. He was leading similar studies and implementations of the NG 112-emergency number services, in North-Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania. It is important to highlight that the HAPE project had an outstanding level of commitment and cooperation from all Kosovar stakeholders. To be part of the European Union critical communications system (EUCCS) that will be established and mandatory in 2030, incl. the future NG-112 will offer to the public to be able to reach the safety agencies with an emergency call, but also allow the emergency Agencies to reach officers and units engaged in a secure prioritized mission critical radio and telephone interoperable network and in any crisis situation, it will give to Governments the capability to reach a large number of citizens simultaneously with the Public warning (EU-ALERT system). Following that study, in coordination with a EU TAIEX mission to start in October 2025, all stakeholders will continue to work in synergies, to boost the building of this secure and resilient communication system, for the benefit of the population.

HAPE project organized and facilitated the first-ever specialized training for members of the Water Border Control Unit of the Kosovo Police, Kosovo Customs and the Emergency Management Agency (EMA). To deliver this important capacity-building initiative, HAPE engaged a highly qualified French expert – a former chief of boat with 13 years of operational experience and a certified expert diver for over 12 years. The objective of the training was to enhance practical skills in waterborne operations and to ensure safe and coordinated navigation in inland waters (lakes). The four-day training was held at Batlava Lake, where a dedicated floating dock was installed on 7 July to support hands-on exercises. A total of 10 officers from the Kosovo Police, 4 officers from Kosovo Customs, and 2 representatives from EMA participated in this intensive course. The training covered a wide range of essential competencies, including safe navigation techniques, man overboard procedures, knot-tying techniques, mooring and securing vessels, and other critical safety protocols necessary for professional waterborne patrol operations. Special emphasis was placed on teamwork, situational awareness, and responding effectively in emergency scenarios. Participants demonstrated a high level of interest, professionalism, and motivation throughout the training, underscoring both the relevance and timeliness of this initiative. This activity reflects HAPE’s continued commitment to strengthening operational capacity and inter-agency cooperation among Kosovo’s border and emergency management institutions, in line with European standards for border security and public safety.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Massimo Prozzo - Task Manager of the European Union Office in Kosovo (EUOK) and Mr. Ron Krasniqi - Acting Head of Division for Policy Coordination - Department for European Integration, International Cooperation and Policy Coordination of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). Also present at the meeting were Col Taibe Canolli, representing the General Director of the Kosovo Police (KP) and Mr Rafet Halimi - Prosecutor from Special Prosecution Office (SPO), representatives from various departments of MIA, of KP (intervention units, Border Police, KP Forensic, Department of Intelligence and Analysis (DIA) including representatives from Police Inspectorate of Kosovo, Kosovo Forensic Agency (KFA) and Kosovo Academy of Public safety (KAPS) and the Kosovo institute for Public administration (KIPA). Among the consortium for the project, Mr Giorgio Butini, - Italian Ministry of Interior (MoI), Mr Olivier Narbonne and Mr Ronan Le Bec - French Directorate for International cooperation and Security and Ms Maria Angulo from CIVIPOL, international technical operator of the French MoI. And other international partners (US Embassy, EU office, EU4FAST, etc…). The event was a showcase of the project achievements from March 2025 to June 2025, including views on the way forward, for the 7th work plan, from July to October 2025. During the presentation of activities, it was underlined that in general, HAPE has increased significantly his support to the beneficiary institutions, of the HAPE project. The last 4-month were one of the busiest period since the beginning of the HAPE project in 2023, with the aim of to be in line with EU best practices and standards in legal and institutional support and to increase the operational capacities of beneficiaries, contributing to the strengthening of the Rule of Law and the fight against organized crime in Kosovo.

A 3-day "cybersecurity countermeasures" session took place for more than 25 participants, including the 16 DPOs of the MIA and its agencies, at Hotel Sirius from the 16th to 20th of June 2025. Different types of tools and methods (governance and compliance services, cryptography, endpoint detection security centers, incident response team, threat intelligence) were presented. The session emphasized the concept of risk assessment, as it has become central to the skills, in terms of cybersecurity compliance, required from exposed entities. Cultural elements of the cybersecurity landscape were shared to support the DPOs in building their own understanding of their environment and which signals to be monitored. A practical case of organization (including network diagrams) was studied, and the participants had the opportunity to learn how each method and tool can positively impact on the efficiency of protection for their organization.

The French expert, both firemen and chemist, provided support in the drafting of a legal and operational protocol on how to manage the handling, storage and destruction of chemical precursors, in line with the latest criminal code reforms and the EU best practice. His recommendations were presented to the working group of the MIA, the Commission on narcotics, psychotropics substances and precursors and to the Pharmaceutic Chamber.

8 special prosecutors from SPRK and 10 special investigators from the serious organized and financial crime division of the Kosovo Police participated in this training session. The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) was created in Podgorica in 2023, as result of a French initiative within the framework of the Balkan strategy, in association with Slovenia and Montenegro.

Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C)