Brussels, 15/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - Europe is to become more involved in Kosovo's transition process, at least as far as the civil and security chapter is concerned, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP, promised after his meeting on Monday 15 January in Brussels with Kosovar President Fatmir Seidju. “We will continue working with Kosovo and we will increase our engagement (…) in the fields of security, economy and rule of law”, he added. He spoke of the work already underway further to the Council decision of September 2006 on preparing the future European civilian mission in Kosovo.
Future EU engagement will take the form of two key actions, sources close to Solana say. The first will consist of taking over from the UN at the head of the international civilian mission (UNMIK) in Pristina. On 12 February, the Council is expected to adopt joint action extending the mandate of the European Union Planning Team (EUPT) responsible for preparing the transfer of UNMIK prerogatives to the EU. The second stage will be deployment of a police mission including support, advisory and training for the Kosovar police forces, and aimed at strengthening rule of law. Over 1,000 members of the police force - some mention 1,300 - are said to be taking part in the mission.
“What is necessary is to maintain calm”, Javier Solana said, recalling however that the stability of the region depends not only on UN action but also on negotiations on the future status of the province expected to open after elections in Serbia. The parties, it was said, are now in the last leg of the process for establishing Kosovo's final status, although further details were not given.
Fatmir Seidju reaffirmed that the Kosovars' determination to attain “an independent Kosovo, integrated to EU structures” in order to maintain “good neighbourhood relations” would be a “factor of stability in the region” and would guarantee respect not only of the Albanian majority but also of the Serbian minority. He said, however, that he was in favour of keeping NATO forces in the province.
The above meeting comes just before parliamentary elections in Serbia, scheduled for 21 January. In the running are the Liberal Party, which is more in favour of Kosovo's independence than its rival, and the Radical Party, which defends more nationalist ideas.