Three Members of the European Parliament have proposed an amendment in the report on Kosovo that would condemn former President Hashim Thaci’s resistance to renew the mandate of EULEX, the EU mission in Kosovo focused on rule of law.
“[The European Parliament] Regrets the attempts by the former President Hashim Thaci to undermine the mandate of EULEX,” reads the amendment proposed by MEPs Tonino Picula, Andreas Schieder and Tanja Fajon.
The draft report as a whole was prepared by Kosovo EP Rapporteur Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel.
The mandate of EULEX ended on June 14, 2020, after it had been extended for two years in 2018. Thaci hesitated to approve the extension this time. His office stated that there is no reason for EULEX to continue with the same duties, while Kosovo’s institutions are able to carry out all its responsibilities.
The president faced strong criticism from the EU for not approving the extension of the mandate on time, and for attempting to end it altogether.
However, a month later, in July 2020, Thaci and the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell signed the extension of EULEX mandate by one year, without being able to negotiate due to the coronavirus pandemic.
