As part of the obligations undertaken in the framework the High-Level Accession Dialogue with the EU, the Justice Ministry has drawn up the draft-amendments to the Electoral Code and Law on Financing of Political Parties, as well as the draft-Law on Civil Accountability for Defamation and Libel and the draft-amendments to the Criminal Code, Justice Minister Blerim Bexheti said at Sunday's press conference.

"The draft-amendments to the Electoral Code focus on some of the recommendations contained in the OSCE/ODIHR Final Report on the 2011 parliamentary elections, with emphasis on ones regarding the state's separation from the political parties, financing of the election campaign, publishing of voting results, the procedures for complaints, as well as other shortcomings in the Electoral Code", said Bexheti.

The draft-amendments to the Law on Financing of Political Parties aims towards implementing recommendations in the latest report by the Council of Europe's Group of States against corruption (GRECO).

According to Minister Bexheti, the draft-Law on Civil Accountability for Defamation and Libel and the draft-amendments to the Criminal Code should guarantee the freedom of expression and information -the foundations of a democratic society.

"The Criminal Code changes decriminalize defamation and libel by erasing all crimes from the chapter related to honor and reputation", he added.

Cascading fines are stipulated for civil accountability, depending on whether the plaintiff decides to sue the author, the editor or the legal entity, whereas the court rules depending on the case and the evidence presented.