From August 17, competition for new prosecutors in Kosovo: Ten places allocated for Serbs

The Kosovo Prosecutorial Council is set to launch a competition for 34 new prosecutor positions, with a significant portion, ten roles, specifically designated for members of the Serb community. The application period will open on August 17 and run for 15 days, according to reports.

Council Chairman Arian Gaši encouraged members of the Serb community to apply for the positions, emphasizing that the selection process will be "fair, independent, and impartial." This initiative aims to increase the representation of the Serb community within the judicial system, a move that is both a legal obligation stemming from dialogue with neighboring countries and a commitment from past agreements.

An analysis of the prosecutorial system's needs revealed that currently, 177 prosecutors are active, while 34 positions remain vacant. Ten of these vacancies are earmarked for Serb candidates, and the remaining 24 are open to other applicants. Dardan Vunići, a Council member, highlighted the obligation to enhance the Serb community's presence in the system.

The competition announcement comes just two weeks after seven former Serb prosecutors were officially dismissed. Their requests to withdraw resignations submitted in November 2022 were rejected by the Prosecutorial Council, which cited a lack of legal basis for their return. Kosovo's acting president subsequently signed decrees for their dismissal.

These former Serb prosecutors and judges, along with police officers and other Serb officials, collectively left Kosovo's institutions in November 2022. This action was part of the Serb List party's decision to withdraw from institutions in protest against Pristina's vehicle re-registration policies and other measures. After months of negotiations involving Belgrade, Pristina, and international partners, the possibility of reintegrating these individuals into Kosovo's judicial system was reopened this year. The Prosecutorial Council's decision to deny their return had previously drawn reactions from the European Union and the United Kingdom.