EULEX Kosovo: new role for the EU rule of law mission - Hoofdinhoud
On 8 June 2018, the Council decided to refocus the mandate of the EU rule of law mission EULEX Kosovo. The mission, established 10 years ago, has had two operational objectives: a monitoring, mentoring and advising objective, providing support to Kosovo’s rule of law institutions and to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and an executive objective, supporting the adjudication of constitutional and civil justice and prosecuting and adjudicating selected criminal cases.
Today's decision brings the judicial executive part of the mission's mandate in Kosovo to an end: Kosovo will assume responsibility for all transferred investigations, prosecutions and trials.
As of 14 June, the mission will concentrate on:
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-monitoring selected cases and trials in Kosovo's criminal and civil justice institutions
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-monitoring, mentoring and advising the Kosovo correctional service
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-continuing its operational support for the implementation of EU-facilitated dialogue agreements for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
The mission will retain certain limited executive responsibilities in the areas of witness protection and support for the specialist chambers and the specialist prosecutor’s office, as well as responsibility for ensuring the maintenance and promotion of security as second security responder.
The Council decision provides for the revised mandate to run until 14 June 2020. It also allocates a combined budget for the mission's operations in Kosovo and for the specialist chambers and the specialist prosecutor's office of EUR 169.8 million for two years (15 June 2018 - 14 June 2020).
The budget will cover the EULEX Kosovo mission's expenditure of EUR 83.6 million for the implementation of its mandate in Kosovo. EUR 86.2 million will support the specialist chambers and the specialist prosecutor's office.
EULEX Kosovo was launched in 2008. The headquarters of the mission are located in Prishtinë/Priština, Kosovo. Alexandra Papadopoulou has been the head of mission since 20 July 2016. On 5 June 2018 the Political and Security Committee extended her mandate until 14 June 2019.
References to Kosovo are without prejudice to positions on status. They are in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/1999 and the opinion by the International Court of Justice on the Kosovo declaration of independence.