Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci and EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell have agreed to extend the mandate of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) by a year.
The newly extended mandate will end on June 14, 2021. A press release from the Kosovo President’s Office stated that the technical extension came as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that made negotiations on the future mandate of EULEX impossible.
EULEX was launched in Kosovo in 2008 as the largest civilian mission ever launched under the Common Security and Defence Policy of the EU. Its term has been renegotiated every two years and has decreased gradually. Similarly, its competencies are being gradually transferred to local institutions.
The Mission’s current aim is to assist Kosovo authorities in forming stable and independent rule of law institutions.
Some Kosovo NGOs have claimed that the EU Mission has failed to meet expectations, especially with regards to fighting organized crime and corruption.
