EULEX Kosovo: One year on: "A good start...but challenges ahead" - Y. de KermabonEULEX Kosovo, the largest civilian mission ever deployed by the European Union, marks its first anniversary of operations on 9 December 2009.
The Head of mission, Yves de Kermabon, said many challenges lay ahead but that there had been a 'good start'. He visited the President and Prime Minister of Kosovo who both gave their support to the mission which is deployed in Kosovo to improve the rule of law working alongside the local institutions.
"This is a year of our joint work, of our joint success in the field of rule of law which is the most important priority. This has been a year of challenges, but mostly it has been a year of full success of our institutions and EULEX," said Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci. The President of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu, also praised the work of EULEX. The mission, deployed across the whole of Kosovo, began operations on 9 December 2008 and became fully operational in April 2009.
Kosovo Minister of Justice, Ms Nekibe Kelmendi and EULEX Head of Mission, Mr Yves de Kermabon, at the inauguration of the Justice building in Pristina
Kosovo is a key priority for the European Union (EU). In Kosovo the best way to move towards European integration is by creating a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo with full respect for the rule of law, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and contributing to regional and European stability. This includes extensive measures to safeguard the future of all communities in Kosovo, thereby creating a basis for Kosovo's sustainable economic and political development. For these reasons, the EU decided on 16 February 2008 to launch a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mission in the area of rule of law.
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) is the largest civilian mission ever launched under the ESDP. The central aim is to assist and support the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area, specifically in the police, judiciary and customs areas. The mission is not in Kosovo to govern or rule. It is a technical mission which will mentor, monitor and advise whilst retaining a number of limited executive powers. EULEX works under the general framework of United Nations Security Resolution 1244 and has a unified chain of command to Brussels.
The mission reached its initial operational capability in early December 2008 and its full operational capability on 6 April 2009. At the moment, the mission has around 1700 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1000 local staff deployed Kosovo wide and working under the general framework of UNSCR 1244. The headquarters is in Pristina and in the regions, with staff working within the judicial and police system and mobile customs teams in Kosovo in accordance with the principle of co-location.
The initial mandate is for 2 years but the mission is foreseen to be terminated when the Kosovo authorities have gained enough experience to guarantee that all members of society benefit from the rule of law.
On 7 February 2008, Mr Yves de Kermabon was appointed as Head of Mission of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX KOSOVO .gif)
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On 17 November 2009, the Council noted with satisfaction the results achieved so far by EULEX KOSOVO in assisting judicial and law enforcement agencies and in promoting rule of law reforms, including in the prosecution and adjudication of sensitive criminal cases and in the fight against organised crime and corruption; as well as for assuming responsibility for law and order in support of the Kosovo police and in cooperation with other international partners when needed.
The Council looked forward to the establishment of the Human Rights Review Panel to assess the conduct of EULEX Kosovo in the performance of its execut ive mandate. This will contribute to the external accountability on the part of EULEX.