Today was held the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Twinning Project

Vushtrri, 14 June 2017 –   At the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety (KAPS), today was held the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Twinning Project, which aims to "Further Support to Education in the Field of Safety in Kosovo", where during the meeting it was estimated that in This three-month all compulsory results have been successfully met.

In this meeting besides the Director General of the Academy, Ismail Smakiqi, present were also Rafael Nievergelt, representative of the Office of the European Union in Kosovo, Director of  Department of Justice and Public Safety in OSCE, Ake Roghe, Ron Krasniqi from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Krista Haak Head of the Twinning Project,  third component project expert Ritva Vahakoski,Vesa Muttilainen, Irmeli Maunonen-Eskelinen, Shpresa Muharremi from OSCE, Agron Rukiqi from Kosovo Police, Vjollca Kaqiku from Kosovo Probation Service, Bujar Mustafa from Kosovo Police Inspectorate, Tefta Bytyqi from Kosovo Correctional Service, Bashkim Arifi from Kosovo Customs and Muhamet Pllana from Agency for Emergency Management.

Director General of the Academy, Smakiqi welcomed the participants in the meeting, expressing happiness for the successful implementation of the project.

By showing the achievements of the Academy in recent months, Director Smakiqi briefed the Steering Committee on the admission of the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety to the Association of European Firefighting Colleges, on June 2, 2017.

Also during this meeting Director Smakiqi spoke about the visit of the evaluation experts at the Academy dealing with the re-accreditation of the study program and institutional accreditation.

Director Smakiqi said that the Twinning Project has so far walked on safe steps and is being successfully implemented.

Twinning Project leader Krista Haak estimated that, although until the end of the project has a year and a half, all mandatory results planned so far are implemented.

Haak said that the first component that has to do with contributing to a stable structure of professional training for all Public Safety Agencies is approaching the end. She said that all curricula were approved by the KAPS Board and ready for application to AKK for validation.

"The last activity has to do with institutional accreditation and validation of qualifications, validation of these new curricula. It started very successfully in April with a seminar, where we received many information and now we are  modifying that information and we will continue until November of this year where the first component will come to an end " Says Haak saying that much work has been done and the result was very good while expressing the hope that the decision will be positive too.

Haak also spoke about E-learning activity saying that many courses were conducted.

She also appreciates that the third component is also making good progress. Haak said that so far all work has been carried out in accordance with the plan and estimated that all the results have been achieved so far. "Work continues very well with close cooperation with the Academy," said Haak.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nievergelt, representative of the European Union Office in Kosovo, offering support to the Academy, said that the Academy is a good example for all other institutions. 

"I'm glad to hear good words about the Academy, I can say that this is what we can learn from KAPS, and that means European integration, which means moving forward by being proactive. Of course, the EU will always be there, but we will take a positive lesson and take the example of the Academy and all this will help the state on the path to European integration, "Rafael said, adding that all this pro activity that the Academy has shown up till now will continue for the benefit of the project and KAPS and the whole country.

"I am very pleased that accreditation is going very well and the assessment is well received and the project components are going very well," said Rafael.

Even the director of the Department for Public Order and Safety in the OSCE Ake Fogh said that the Academy is a good example for other institutions.

"I welcome Director Smakiqi for the memberships that the Academy has made in the Association of European Firefighting Colleges and other international associations. Roghe said that the OSCE will continue to support the Academy in the future.

"We are really committed to the Academy because AKSP is a very professional institution," said Roghe.

Ron Krasniqi, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs congratulates the Academy for the work.

"It seems that this project as first one seems to be successful and beneficial to KAPS. MIA will continue further support to KAPS, said "Krasniqi.

Representatives of Public Safety Agencies also expressed their views on the twinning project. They offering support were happy that the project is run as is foreseen.


During this meeting of the Steering Committee Project, Ms’ Ritva Vahakoski presented the three-month report for each point separately, a report that was considered successful by attendees.