Strasbourg, France – Kosovo’s institutional reforms in the field of corruption prevention were
internationally recognized during a high-level workshop organized by the Council of Europe in
Strasbourg, where the Agency for Prevention of Corruption (APC) presented its approach and
experience in corruption risk mapping.
At the international workshop titled “Mapping Corruption Risks: Lessons Learned and Application
Opportunities”, representatives from the Western Balkans, Europe, and North Africa gathered to
discuss the most effective strategies for identifying and managing corruption risks.
On behalf of the Republic of Kosovo, the Director of APC, Mr. Yll Buleshkaj, shared the Agency’s
experience in conducting a comprehensive corruption risk assessment process, covering 159 public
institutions, including 115 state institutions and 44 publicly owned enterprises.
“Corruption is not just a legal issue – it is a challenge of institutional culture. Change begins with
accurate diagnosis and the willingness to act where the risk is real,” stated Mr. Buleshkaj during his
speech at the workshop.
He emphasized the importance of political will at all levels, the formalization of responsibilities, early
involvement of targeted institutions, and maintaining continuous communication throughout the
evaluation process. Mr. Buleshkaj also raised concerns regarding current challenges, such as the lack
of a consolidated database, which makes anti-corruption assessments more difficult.
Furthermore, he stressed the need for future use of technology – through data analytics, artificial
intelligence, and digital tools – to enhance the effectiveness of corruption detection and prevention.
The details of the experience, challenges, and opportunities encountered during the implementation
of the corruption risk mapping process were presented by Mr. Blerim Kelmendi, Director of the
Department, while all members of the Agency who were involved in the process in Kosovo also took
part in the event, reflecting a coordinated and technically unified institutional approach.
Kosovo’s participation in this format not only reaffirms its commitment to deep reforms in the field
of integrity and rule of law, but also positions the country as a positive example at the European
level and beyond.
The participation of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption of Kosovo in this workshop was made
possible through the Council of Europe Project Against Economic Crime in Kosovo (PECK III), a project
co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe.