On 6 September 2016, Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) hosted a Panel Discussion on the topic: “Examining the Role of the Constitutional Court in Kosovo as an Agent of Social Change”, held at Swiss Diamond Hotel. This Panel was organized with the aim of discussing and analyzing the role of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court in the consolidation of an emerging constitutional democracy and the management of its institutional loopholes.

At the beginning of the Discussion, Group for Legal and Political Studies presented a Working Paper entitled “Promising Early Years: The Transformative Role of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo”. This Working Paper examines the extent to which and under what conditions did Kosovo’s Constitutional Court position itself as a proper constitutional-political actor and facilitator of militant democracy.  Among other issues, panelists agreed that citizen’s trust towards the Constitutional Court is crucial and the latter should position itself as an independent, credible and active judiciary institution. Apart from the panelists, the event was attended by several academics and other important national and international actors. Both panelists and participants discussed the scope and depth of jurisdiction, positioning, legitimacy and overall performance of the Constitutional Court in resolving important political questions during and after political and constitutional crisis in Kosovo.

This event was organized with the support of the Regional Research promotion Programme in the Western Balkans (RRPP).The RRPP is coordinated and operated by the Interfaculty Institute for Central and Eastern Europe (IICEE) at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). The programme is fully funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

To access the Working Paper, please click here.

Panelists in attendance:

Ms. Gjyljeta Mushkolaj – former Judge at Constitutional Court of Kosovo;

Mr. Visar Morina – Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Prishtina;

Ms. Albulena Haxhiu – Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation;

Mr. Armend Zemaj – Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Legislation.

Venue: Swiss Diamond Hotel, Prishtina