On June 30, 2021, the International Business College Mitrovica (IBCM) hosted Professor and Judge Remzije Istrefi from the Constitutional Court as a guest lecturer. This event was part of the Jean Monnet Module “Best European Practice in Environment in Agriculture,” a program designed to deepen students’ understanding of European Union policies and practices, especially in agriculture and environmental protection.
Professor Remzije Istrefi’s lecture, “Harmonization of Kosovo Acquis with the EU on Environmental Protection,” provided an in-depth view of the critical steps Kosovo must take to align its legal framework with EU standards. She started by explaining the Kosovo acquis and its essential role in the nation’s legal system. Emphasizing the need for robust legal structures to tackle environmental issues, she highlighted the importance of sustainable development.
The discussion then shifted to the EU environmental acquis, a comprehensive set of regulations and directives that member states are required to adopt. These cover a broad range of areas, including air and water quality, waste management, biodiversity, and climate change. Professor Istrefi underscored the complexities and challenges Kosovo faces in this harmonization process, such as the need for building institutional capacity, raising public awareness, and ensuring political commitment to the environmental agenda.