Brussels, 12/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - While awaiting the United Nations Security Council resolution on the future status of Kosovo, the EU is continuing to prepare its it police and rule of law mission to Kosovo. This will be a “civilian ESDP mission to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo”, with the emphasis on the “criminal investigation department and customs”, said Pieter Feith, Deputy Director General for the ESDP within the Council of the EU, on Tuesday 11 September, during an exchange of views with the European Parliament defence sub-committee.
The mission, which will be activated after the UN Security Council resolution that is expected for the end of the year, will pick up some of the duties and tasks of the United Nations administration mission, UNMIK. It will last two to three years, renewable depending on the situation on the ground and is likely to have an annual budget currently estimated at €150 million. The EU Police Mission (EUMP) to Kosovo will be made up of the judges and police officers needed for the training of Kosovo police service. Security issues will remain the responsibility of the troops with the NATO peace keeping mission, KFOR. Feith pointed out that KFOR would remain in position “at least throughout the transition process”.
In planning, the Council will, according to Feith, focus on five key areas to allow as rapid transition and deployment as possible. He said that the Council had to (1) consider the planning of emergency measures, (2) try to reduce deployment times of the ESDP mission, (3) check the financial implications and find the €150 million necessary; (4) resolve the highly complex issue of logistics, which will require great flexibility from member states (“We cannot deploy men after such a long period” of waiting without providing them with the necessary equipment, he said). Fifthly, member states would have to complete the recruitment of staff and allocate them as appropriate according to the type of mission. (aby)