Constitution

Kosovo 2008 Constitution (reviewed 2016)

Table of Contents

Chapter XI. Security Sector

Article 125. General Principles

  1. The Republic of Kosovo has authority over law enforcement, security, justice, public safety, intelligence, civil emergency response and border control within its territory.
  2. Security institutions in the Republic of Kosovo shall protect public safety and the rights of all people in the Republic of Kosovo. The institutions shall operate in full transparency and in accordance with internationally recognized democratic standards and human rights. Security institutions shall reflect the ethnic diversity of the population of the Republic of Kosovo.
  3. The Republic of Kosovo fully respects all applicable international agreements and the relevant international law and cooperates with the international security bodies and regional counterparts.
  4. Civilian and democratic control over security institutions shall be guaranteed.
  5. The Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo oversees the budget and policies of the security institutions as provided by law.

Article 126. Kosovo Security Force

  1. The Kosovo Security Force shall serve as a national security force for the Republic of Kosovo and may send its members abroad in full conformity with its international responsibilities.
  2. The Kosovo Security Force shall protect the people and Communities of the Republic of Kosovo based on the competencies provided by law.
  3. The President of the Republic of Kosovo is the Commander-in-Chief of the Kosovo Security Force, which shall always be subject to control by democratically elected civilian authorities.
  4. The Kosovo Security Force shall be professional, reflect ethnic diversity of the people of the Republic of Kosovo and shall be recruited from among the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.
  5. The Commander of the Kosovo Security Force shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Kosovo upon the recommendation of the Government. Internal organization of the Kosovo Security Force shall be determined by law.

Article 127. Kosovo Security Council

  1. The Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo in cooperation with the President of the Republic of Kosovo and the Government develops the security strategy for the Republic of Kosovo. The Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo shall also have an advisory role on all matters relating to security in the Republic of Kosovo.
  2. The Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo shall be chaired by the Prime Minister with the support of the Government, except during a State of Emergency as provided by this Constitution.
  3. The President of the Republic of Kosovo may require meetings of the Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo and the Council is obliged to closely coordinate its work with the President. The Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo shall closely cooperate with international authorities.
  4. Members of the Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo shall be appointed and dismissed in a manner provided for by law.

Article 128. Kosovo Police

  1. The Police of the Republic of Kosovo shall be responsible for the preservation of public order and safety throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
  2. The Police shall be professional and reflect the ethnic diversity of the population of the Republic of Kosovo.
  3. The Prime Minister shall appoint the Police Director General of the Republic of Kosovo upon the recommendation of the Government and in accordance with law. Internal organization of the Kosovo Police shall be provided by law.
  4. The Police of the Republic of Kosovo shall have a unified chain of command throughout the Republic of Kosovo with police stations corresponding to municipal boundaries. The Kosovo Police shall facilitate cooperation with municipal authorities and community leaders through the establishment of Local Councils as provided by law. Ethnic composition of the police within a municipality shall reflect the ethnic composition of the population within the respective municipality to the highest extent possible.
  5. The Police of the Republic of Kosovo shall be responsible for border control in direct cooperation with local and international authorities.

Article 129. Kosovo Intelligence Agency

  1. The Kosovo Intelligence Agency shall identify, investigate and monitor threats to security in the Republic of Kosovo.
  2. The Kosovo Intelligence Agency shall be professional, politically impartial, multi-ethnic and shall be subject to Assembly oversight in a manner provided by law.
  3. The President of the Republic of Kosovo and the Prime Minister, upon consultation with the Government, shall jointly appoint the Director, Deputy Director and Inspector General of Kosovo Intelligence Agency. Qualifications and terms of office shall be determined by law.
  4. The President of the Republic of Kosovo and the Prime Minister shall receive the same intelligence information.

Article 130. Civilian Aviation Authority

  1. The Civilian Aviation Authority of the Republic of Kosovo shall regulate civilian aviation activities in the Republic of Kosovo and shall be a provider of air navigation services as provided by law.
  2. The Civilian Aviation Authority shall fully cooperate with relevant international and local authorities as provided by law.

Article 131. State of Emergency

  1. The President of the Republic of Kosovo may declare a State of Emergency when:
    1. there is a need for emergency defense measures;
    2. there is internal danger to the constitutional order or to public security; or
    3. there is a natural disaster affecting all or part of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
  2. During the State of Emergency, the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo shall not be suspended. Limitations on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution shall only be to the extent necessary, for the least amount of time and in full accordance with this Constitution. During the State of Emergency, the law on elections of the Assembly and Municipalities shall not be changed. Further principles for the actions of the public institutions during the State of Emergency shall be regulated by law, but shall not be inconsistent with this Article.
  3. If there exists the need for emergency defense measures, the President of the Republic of Kosovo shall declare a State of Emergency upon consultation with the Prime Minister. In declaring the State of Emergency, the President of the Republic of Kosovo shall immediately issue a decree setting forth the nature of the threat and any limitations on rights and freedoms. Within forty eight (48) hours, the Assembly may provide its consent by two thirds (2/3) vote of the deputies present and voting. If consent is not provided, the President’s decree shall have no force or effect.
  4. If there exists a danger to the constitutional order and to the public safety in the Republic of Kosovo or there exists a natural disaster in all or part of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, the President of the Republic of Kosovo may declare a State of Emergency upon consultation with the Prime Minister. In declaring the State of Emergency, the President of the Republic of Kosovo shall immediately issue a decree setting forth the nature of the emergency and any limitations on rights and freedoms. Within forty eight (48) hours, the Assembly may provide its consent by a majority vote of the deputies present and voting. If consent is not provided, the President’s decree shall have no force or effect.
  5. A State of Emergency shall last only as long as the danger continues and may last no longer than a period of sixty (60) days. With the consent of a majority vote of the deputies of the Assembly present and voting, the State of Emergency may be extended if necessary for successive periods of thirty (30) days up to a total of ninety (90) additional days.
  6. The Assembly may place such limitations on the duration and extent of the State of Emergency as deemed necessary. When the President determines that the danger to the Republic of Kosovo is of an extraordinary nature, the Assembly may authorize an extension of the State of Emergency beyond the one hundred fifty (150) days, only if adopted by two thirds (2/3) vote of all deputies of the Assembly.
  7. The President of the Republic of Kosovo may, upon consultation with the Government and the Assembly, order mobilization of the Kosovo Security Force to assist in the State of Emergency.
  8. The Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo, only during the State of Emergency, shall exercise executive functions which shall be limited to those functions which specifically relate to the State of Emergency. In a State of Emergency the Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo shall be chaired by the President of the Republic of Kosovo, as provided by law. During the State of Emergency, the Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo shall closely cooperate with the Government, the Assembly and international authorities.
  9. The law shall define the principles, areas and manner of compensation for any losses resulting from the limitations imposed during a State of Emergency.