European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo

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The logo of the mission

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo, is a planned deployment of European Union (EU) police and civilian resources to Kosovo. This rule of law mission is projected as a continuation of the international civil presence in Kosovo envisaged by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. Russia and Serbia initially considered the mission illegal pending a new decision by the United Nations Security Council, which was rendered in late 2008. Russian and Serbian opposition was withdrawn after it was explicitly made clear that EULEX will not implement Ahtisaari plan and that EU as a whole will not have position on the status of Kosovo.

The mission includes 2,000 police and judicial personnel, and began a four month deployment process on 16 February 2008.^[1][2]

Composition and deployment

A 1800-1900 strong mission was approved by The European Council on 14 December 2007. This was later increased to 2000 personnel due to an increase in expected instability due to a lack of an agreement with Serbia.^[1] It consists of police officers (including four anti-riot units^[3]), prosecutors and judges - hence focusing on issues on the rule of law, including democratic standards. The size of the mission means Kosovo will soon be home to the largest number of EU civil servants outside of Brussels.^[4] Chief of the mission is Yves de Kermabon, who is accountable to the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo, Pieter Feith. The mission is expected to cost €165 million in its first year.

The final decision on the mission was planned to be taken on 28 January 2008.^[5] This was postponed due to concerns over possible negative effects on the second round of the presidential election in Serbia on 3 February 2008 and the possible signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia on that date.^[6] The officially voiced reason for the postponement is the lack of a legal basis (through a UNSC resolution or something similar) for the mission.^[7] A Joint Action was approved on 4 February 2008, meaning that only the final approval is required; it is expected to be given on 18 February 2008.^[8]

Spain will not take part in EULEX mission until legal questions over how it will replace the UN administration are answered. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos told a meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers in Slovenia that Spain will not send its contingent to the EULEX mission until there has been a formal transfer of powers from the United Nations.^[9]

Apart from EU members, third parties Croatia, Turkey, Switzerland, Norway and the United States will also take part.^[10]

Political situation

A map of EU member states and their stance on recognising Kosovo's independence
Key:
     recognises Kosovo      does not recognise Kosovo

The EU has been divided on whether to recognize an independent Kosovo (for individual member states' stances on recognising Kosovo, see map to the right) without international and Serbian approval. The agreement was seen as ensuring the unity of the EU on the question, however the Presidency announced it would not amount to recognition of an independent Kosovo.^[11]

The EU has stated its mission will be legally based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which introduced the international rule of Kosovo in 1999.^[11] However, the EU force, which was previously planned to be convered by Security council's approval of Ahtisaari proposal, has not received a new U.N. Security Council mandate due to the opposition from Russia. Russia specifically blocked transfer of U.N. facility to the EU mission.^[12][13] Serbia also views the mission as an EU recognition of an independent Kosovo.^[14]

In November 2008, the EU accepted the demand of Serbia not to implement the plan of Ahtisaari through EULEX and to be neutral regarding the status of Kosovo. On the other hand EULEX will be accepted by Serbia and the UN Security Council.^[15]

Protests

On 25 August 2009, the EULEX mission was subject to violent protests, resulting in the damaging of 28 EU vehicles, from Kosovo-Albanian's against the international presence in Kosovo. One EULEX member and 3 police officers were injured in the clashes which resulted in 21 arrests by the Kosovo police. The attack was organised by the Vetevendosja (Self-Determination) group in reaction to EULEX's police cooperation with Serbia and its actions in Kosovo.^[16] There is resentment towards the EU mission for exercising its powers over Kosovo while mediating between the state and Serbia. Policies concentrating on crisis management, rather than resolution, as well as the pursuit of ethnic autonomy and its overly broad mandate over Kosovo's governance is at the stem of the discontent with the EU mission.^[17]

Troops sent to Kosovo

•  Germany: Germany is sending around 600 troops as peace keepers.^[18]
•  Italy: Italy is sending around 600 troops as peace keepers.^[18]
•  United Kingdom: On 25 April 2008, the UK announced that it will to send a battle-group based on 2 Rifles, a light infantry battalion of about 600 soldiers, to help maintain public order.^[19]

See also

• Overseas interventions of the European Union
• Kosovo status process
• Accession of Kosovo to the European Union
• European Union Planning Team for Kosovo (EUPTK)^[20]

References

External links

• Official website.
• Council Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP.
• Viewpoint: The EU's toughest operation, BBC News.
• Kosovo 2009: Uncertain Future - spotlight europe 2009/01
• EULEX Kosovo breaks new ground for ESDP, European Union Institute for Security Studies, Newsletter, January 2009
• Kosovo: one year on, Opinion by Jelena Obradović, February 2009, European Union Institute for Security Studies