ICIC President, Besnik Dervishi: Kosovo strengthens its role in developing international transparency standards
The President of the International Conference of Commissioners for the Right to Information and Access to Information (ICIC), simultaneously Commissioner for the Right to Information and Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Besnik Dervishi, participated in the international conference organized in Pristina on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Personal Data Protection Authority and the 5th anniversary of the Information and Privacy Agency of the Republic of Kosovo.
In his speech, Commissioner Dervishi praised the Agency's institutional journey, emphasizing that it has become a key institution in guaranteeing two fundamental rights: the right to information and the protection of personal data. In his capacity as President of ICIC, he highlighted Kosovo's increasingly active role in international transparency structures, highlighting the Agency's contribution to ICIC working groups, the leadership of the Information Integrity Working Group, as well as its representation in the Executive Committee of the European Network for Transparency and the Right to Information.
Commissioner Dervishi emphasized that our region is no longer just a beneficiary of international standards, but is increasingly contributing to their shaping. He described this commitment as evidence of the trust that the international community of information authorities is placing in the Kosovo Information and Privacy Agency, appreciating its contribution to advancing standards of transparency and access to information.
He expressed special appreciation for the Commissioner of the Information and Privacy Agency, Ms. Krenare Sogojeva Dërmaku, emphasizing that the cooperation between the counterpart authorities of Albania and Kosovo represents a partnership model based on mutual trust, exchange of experiences and joint commitment to the protection of two fundamental rights: the right to information and the protection of personal data.
The conference was welcomed by Ms. Albulena Haxhiu, Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, and Speaker of the Assembly. She emphasized that the right of citizens to be informed is one of the pillars of democracy, as it guarantees them the opportunity to understand how decisions are made, how power is exercised and how public funds are administered. Haxhiu underlined that transparency and the protection of privacy are two inseparable guarantees of a democratic state: transparency makes the government accountable, while privacy protects the citizen. Appreciating the work of the Agency, Haxhiu emphasized that, in the conditions of rapid technological developments, its role becomes increasingly important, as an informed citizen and a protected citizen constitute the foundation of a democratic republic.
In her speech, Commissioner Krenare Sogojeva Dërmaku praised the five-year journey of the Agency, emphasizing that its mission has been to build a modern, transparent institution at the service of citizens. She highlighted the work in raising public awareness of the right to information and the protection of personal data, building professional capacities in the public administration and the private sector, as well as strengthening the mechanisms for oversight and implementation of legislation in these areas. Thanking the international partners, Commissioner Sogojeva Dërmaku expressed special gratitude to Commissioner Besnik Dervishi and the counterpart institution in Albania for their continued support for the Agency. In concluding her speech, she emphasized that the Agency’s mission is not measured by the time that has passed, but by the impact it has created in the protection of citizens’ rights and the responsibility towards each of them, underlining that the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights is, above all, the restoration of their dignity.
The conference was also welcomed by Mr. Zdravko Vukić, Vice-Chair of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and Director of the Croatian Data Protection Authority, who congratulated the Agency on the results achieved and praised Kosovo's progress in this area. He stressed that the observer status in the European Data Protection Board represents an important step in approaching European standards, reconfirming the EDPB's support for the institutional strengthening of the Agency and for Kosovo's advancement on its European path.
The conference reaffirmed the importance of regional and international cooperation in promoting transparency, the right to information and the protection of personal data, as fundamental values of democratic societies.
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