Border Police Department

BORDER POLICE OF REPUBLIC OF KOSOVA
Border Police (KBP) functions within the framework of Kosova Police

VISIONI OF KBP

“Opened Borders but controlled and safe”.

MISSIONI OF KBP

“To ensure increased border safety and security by preventing, detecting and apprehend the criminals involved in border-crossing criminal activities, terrorist activities, human being trafficking, forgery of documents, transportation of weapons for mass destruction, narcotics, weapons, stolen vehicles and other types of smuggling prohibited by law“

GENERAL STRATEGIC GOAL

The general strategic goal of Border Police is developing a system of border security which will integrate all state agencies responsible for border control and security.

BORDER POLICE

Within the framework of Police of Republic of Kosova, are functions of Border Police (KBP).Currently Border Police consists of 1167 employees of which 1129 are Police Officers and 38 are Civilian Staff Employees.

Initially Border Police was established to respond to the needs of post war Kosova and its structure was organized in the accordance to these needs. The Kosovo Border Police was established in 1999 as UNMIK Police with the mandate of UNMIK resolution 1244, responsible for the control and security at all border crossings.

Border Police is unique and professional, that it holds the safety of the state in it’s shoulders and it’s the only entity in Kosova, set to be “FRONT LINE OF DEFENSE” of Kosova. The Kosova Border Police is responsible for the management, control and supervision of Kosova Border Points, the green borders, the blue borders, management and control within the Republic of Kosovo with regard to border issues; the release of temporary documents for border crossing; security at the international airport in cooperation with the airport operator and relevant authorized authorities; prevention of terrorist acts in partnership with all law enforcement agencies; determining the rights of any person wishing to enter or to exit Kosovo regarding visa and entry requirements; the provisional closure of borders, based on the decision of the Government; granting temporary permission to cross the Green and Blue border.

Main tasks of the KBP are as follows:

Perform audits on the legality of the request of each traveler to enter the country;

• Prevent and prohibit the illegal crossing of state border;
• Travelers checks, including checks of transport vehicles and their personal whatnots in order to cross the state border line in accordance with the international agreements and in cooperation with other authorities;
• Performs at least minimal fast and direct checks to the validity of documents authorizing the legitimate holder to pass the border and verify the presence of falsification or fraud signs;
• Take the necessary measures if a person meets the conditions to enter or to exit from the Republic of Kosovo;
• Fulfill the obligations specified in international agreements, manage the activities of the mandated authorities to investigate the border events,  inspect the work in relation to the supervision of the state border;
• Prevents violent actions against the order in the state border and facilities under the protection of Border Police;
• Perform police duties for foreigners as specified in the law for foreigners and subsidiary acts;
• To cooperate with the responsible agency for migration and asylum as defined in the relevant laws;
• Take the necessary action to manage any emergency involving refugees and conflict situations that directly threaten the order of the state border;
• Cooperates regarding the administrative procedures specified by the legal provisions to ensure the protection of order in the state border;
• Exercise authority based on legal provisions for some cases of minor violations;
• Assess and collects the required information to perform the border police duties.
• Exercise their power of inquiry in accordance with the country's applicable legislation:

The borderline with the Republic of Albania is partially marked, the Republic of Macedonia is under finalization. The Republic of Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia is expected to be marked in the near future.

Geographical Data
Republic of Kosovo has an area of 10,908 km2 and it is located in the center of the western part of the Balkan Peninsula and it is surrounded by: the Republic of Albania in the south-west, the Republic of Macedonia in the south, the Republic of Montenegro in the north-west, Republic of Serbia in the north-east. Kosovo's border line with the neighboring countries, mainly passes through the mountains and has natural character.

Its geographic position is:

The Length of state border of the Republic of Kosovo is as follows:

Border line with the Republic of Albania is partially marked, the Republic of Macedonia is under finalization. The Republic of Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia is expected to be marked in the near future

Border crossing points, the number, types, categorization and standardization

In Kosova there are currently 15 operating border crossing points, 13 of them are permanent border crossings points and 2 temporary border crossings points: Krushevë and Orqushë, are under the supervision of the Vermica border crossing point.

The road traffic border crossing points between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania are: Vërmica, Qafa e Prushit and Qafe e Morinës.

Road traffic Border crossing points between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Montenegro is “Kulla”.

The road traffic Border crossing points between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia are: Bërnjak, Jarinje, Merdare, Mutivodë, Dheu i Bardhë and Muçibabë.

The road traffic Border crossing points of between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Macedonia are: Hani i Elezit and Glloboqica
The railway traffic Border crossing point between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Macedonia is Hani i Elezit while with the Republic of Serbia is Leshaku and Merdare (out of functioning).

The air traffic Border crossing point is Prishtina International Airport.
The Green Border is currently and KFOR still continues to be responsibility of. KFOR reports any discovered violations to the competent border authorities, KBP and Directorate of Border DB.

The responsibility for overseeing the Green and Blue Borders, should gradually be handed over to the KBP

The blue border is currently overseen by KFOR - and by DB. This limited man power presence is not sufficient to provide a safe supervision, therefore the presence of all agencies authorized for border issues, is required.

A permanent presence requires an increase of these aspects: personnel, training and equipment

Current organizational structure of the KBP

The Kosova Border Police is part of the Kosova Police, and is organized at the Central, Regional and Local. In the central level consists of three Directorates, a Head of Department and Deputy Director General of Border Police.
Regional Level Border Police consists of:
North Region;
Region East and
West Region.
Prishtina International Airport (which is under the direct command of the Main Command of Border Department).
The Border Regional Commands manage and control of police stations Border Police Kosovo border at the different border points. Some border crossing points at certain railway stations or any other stations open to international traffic and border platoons.
”Integrated Border Management” (IBM)

Integrated Border Management (IBM) implies national/international coordination and cooperation between all the competent authorities involved in the border security and facilitation the free movement of people and goods, as well as establishing an efficient and effective integrated border management, in order to achieve the common goal of open borders, but controlled and safe. National Strategy for the Republic of Kosova for IBM follows guidelines of the EC for the Western Balkans and it is focused on three main agencies that have responsibilities in the Borders: Kosova Police, Customs and Veterinary and Food Agency of Kosova and refers to a range of agencies and other operators who are active in the field of border management.
Integrated border management and security at the border, represents a special commitment in relation to the Constitution of the Republic of Kosova, legislation, political actions and National Security within the country, as well as in international relations, particularly in the process of membership in the European Union, other international structures and building trust with neighboring states and beyond.

The legal framework

KBP exercises its duties and responsibilities on the country's Constitution, Law on Police, Code of Criminal Procedure, Law on Integrated Management and Control of State Border, the Law on Foreigners, Law on Asylum and the Internal Regulation Police and other subsidiary acts of legislation regulating the scope of the KBP framework.
All laws regulating the field of Border Police are in force and are harmonized with EU legislation.

Policing Model which applies the KBP

As a model of policing Border Police will apply policing supervision and border control through surveillance, identification, and then shall apply reaction. Border Police shall apply the security system based on intelligence information on the movement of crime and risk analysis. The selection of this model of policing comes as a result of increasing demands of citizens for a better quality of service, as well as the successful experiences of homologue police organizations of the EU countries.
All these forms of policing will have as a result: Creating a culture of modern management, which shall bring orientation the Border Police performance towards planning.
Building Partnership. Although Border Police is in the lead, it is still not the only institution responsible for the border control and security, but works jointly with other agencies that deal with border control and security of the border.

Improving infrastructure. Border Police can not provide the required quality services if they are not supported by a modern infrastructure

Objectives and Priorities of the Border Police
1. Incorporate requirements EU/Schengen related to border management within national laws;
2. To complete the harmonization of national laws on border management with the acquis of the EU/Schengen.
3. Compilation and implementation of Standard Operational Procedures regarding the internal issues of operations, personnel, training, finance and logistics;
4. Creating secondary legislative infrastructure for the Border Police.
5. Develop high ethical standards in relation to corruption and utilize effectively the professional performance appraisal, encouragement and reward mechanism;
6. Compile and implement standard procedures for risk analysis;
7. Drafting of the internal regulations and orders with respect to communication, collaboration, information exchange, joint operations, trinity, use of equipment and infrastructure in the Border Police;
8. Gradual acquisition of the responsibilities from KFOR for controlling the Green and Blue lines.
9. Closer co-operation with other departments in the Kosova Police, to control the boundary line and when needed as well as the interior territory of the country. This is clearly for the purpose of defining the risk analysis.
10. Developing and putting into effect the anti-corruption measures in the framework of the Border Police

Cooperation

The concept of the EU for the Western Balkans on IBM covers coordination and cooperation between all relevant authorities and agencies, involved in border security and trade facilitating, with the aim of establishing effective systems and performance of integrated border management, with the aim of achieving the common goal of opened borders, but controlled and safe.

Three main pillars that support the concept of the EU IBM
Key aspects of the IBM concept are coordination and cooperation based on the following three pillars:

• Cooperation within the agency;
• Cooperation between agencies and
• International cooperation.

In order to increase efficiency in the border management, the international cooperation is very important. This cooperation can best be done through exchange of information, determining the emergency procedures, channels of communication.

The KBP aims to promote international cooperation in three levels; the multilateral, bilateral and local levels. KBP also aims to engage more actively in the multilateral processes of European cooperation through active participation in relevant working groups of the Budapest Process.

Currently, in the field of international cooperation, the KBP is based on signed memoranda of cooperation with all neighboring countries except the Republic of Serbia. Important role in this regard are also bilateral agreements on the demarcation of the borderline with neighboring countries, where the agreement with the Republic of Macedonia is underway towards conclusion that and in the future is expected to have the demarcation of the borderline with other neighboring countries.
Currently, KBP holds cross-border meetings of local and regional level that are regular meetings, and meetings of the central level that are periodic (not regular).

In this field KBP aims to be more proactive in terms of bilateral relations and promote contacts with border services of neighboring countries and by giving priority to them. This is intended to be attained, initially by appointing the contact persons (in places where they are not set yet), then opening the liaison offices and also aiming the open shared liaison offices with the neighboring countries. This will ensure more efficient exchange of information and it not only for the needs of KBP, but it will also help other agencies and institutions within the Republic of Kosovo, such as the Kosova police, Customs, Court.

Within these circumstances KBP has periodically conducted joint patrols of the border with the police of some neighboring countries.
KBP aims to increase the number of joint patrols of the borderline and that this shall be done gradually with the change of circumstances (transfer of responsibilities from KFOR, to the KBP in the terms of the green line border) and the renewal of existing agreements and achieve new agreements of cooperation with the neighboring countries.

In order to increase the efficiency of border management, the KBP aims in the future to draw up the operational plans and joint action plans in case of different situations and emergency communication system with neighboring countries.