CASE Commends Kosovo Judicial Council for Prioritising SLAPP Cases
The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, and Lëvizja FOL welcome the newly adopted Strategic Plan for Access to Justice for the period 2026–2028, which gives priority to SLAPP cases.
According to the Strategy, judges in Kosovo at all court levels will be required to prioritise SLAPP cases concerning media and civil society activists in their work and resolve them as a matter of urgency. In addition, they also have to prioritize cases of defamation and safety involving journalists and civil society activists.
The Strategy was adopted on 15 January by the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), the highest governing body of the judiciary, responsible for overseeing courts and recruiting judges. The three year Strategy is a binding document for all judges, and its implementation will be monitored closely.
With the deadline of 7 May 2026 to transpose the EU Directive on SLAPPs, as well as the Council of Europe Recommendation on SLAPPs, the KJC is among the first judicial councils in Europe to give priority to SLAPP cases. This contributes directly to ensuring that such cases are dismissed as early as possible.
This approach demonstrates the KJC’s strong commitment to protecting public participation, media freedom, journalists, and media workers from abusive legal proceedings. We hope that other judicial bodies in Europe will follow this example.
The Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe is the largest anti-SLAPP movement in Europe, consisting of more than 120 member organizations from across the continent. Together, we work to expose legal harassment and intimidation, protect the rights of those who speak out, and advocate for comprehensive protective measures and legal reform.