Brussels, 13/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 12 June, the Council of the EU decided to extend the EU's rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo, until 14 June 2016. The Council also approved the mission's budget for a four-month transition period until 14 October 2014, which amounts to €34 million.
In the next two years, the mission will accelerate the handover of its activities to local institutions and other EU actors. “EULEX will focus on capacity building throughout Kosovo and security and the implementation of agreements reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in the north”, the Council stated in a press release. Given the development of local institutions, the mission “will start to phase out” its executive functions in the justice sector. Thus, “subject to certain safeguards”, EULEX prosecutors will, in principle, not take on new cases while completing work on ongoing files. EULEX will also keep mentoring and advising local rule of law institutions until it fully hands over these tasks in June 2016.
EULEX Kosovo, launched in 2008, assists and supports the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area (specifically concerning police, judiciary and customs). Headed by Bernd Borchardt, it currently has over 2,000 local and international staff but the size of the mission will be reduced in the next four months to take account of the evolution of its activities. (CG)