[Dossier n°06] EULEX Kosovo. A difficult deployment. A delicate political context. A constantly evolving mission
(B2) Launched in February 2008, the deployment of the EULEX mission was delayed by the refusal of Serbia, supported by Russia at the UN, which did not want to see the Europeans replace the United Nations mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
A difficult deployment
Monday February 18st, 2008. The Europeans endorse the "Rule of Law" mission in Kosovo. The day after the proclamation of independence by the Kosovar Parliament (February 17). Europe deploys 2000 police officers and magistrates.
— This is despite divisions among Europeans over whether or not to recognize Kosovo as a state. But Russia remains strongly opposed to this mission. Dmitry Rogozin, NATO's ambassador to Brussels,Explain.
Early June 2008Only 300 people are present at EULEX Kosovo, out of the 2000 initially planned.
— After weeks of hesitation, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sent a letter to the Kosovo authorities, announcing a reconfiguration of the UN force in the country (UNMIK) and a plan to hand over power to EULEX Kosovo. Read: Unmik in Kosovo reconfigured, Eulex Kosovo could deploy
Thursday June 15, 2008, NATO defense ministers insist that KFOR be relieved of policing and law enforcement duties.
— full entry into force of the Kosovo Constitution
Lesson finish date June 2008, “phase 2” of the deployment must begin.
Thursday July 17, 2008"Serbia is not against the presence of an EU civilian mission on its territory," Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in Moscow on July 17 after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Would the situation be resolved?
Wednesday July 23, 2008. An agreement is reached. Technical agreements are made between UNMIK and the European Union. An agreement is ratified for Switzerland's participation in the European mission. First participation of a third country.
August 2008. Deployment is slowly resuming. Eulex Kosovo is recruiting…
Monday 6 October 2008. But it is, again, interrupted, Kosovo in turn rejecting the Ban Ki Moon plan. The Serbs, too, are dragging their feet. The European Union threatens... Read: If Belgrade does not accept the Eulex mission, no membership!
Wednesday 26th November 2008The Kosovar and Serbian obstacles have been definitively removed, and the final necessary green light, that of the UN Security Council, has been obtained.
Friday 5 December 2008. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is declared achieved.
Monday 8 December 2008The initial operational capability (IOC) is ratified at the Council of Foreign Ministers, which can then officially launch the operation. With a little more than six months behind schedule.
April 2009. The Full operational capability for the Eulex mission in Kosovo (FOC) is reached.
October 2008. US participation in Eulex Kosovo endorsed by agreement, on the political level - the Americans are very involved with the new Kosovar government - as operationally - the American participation is not symbolic (police, judges, etc.).
January 2009. A similar agreement with Canada follows. The 27 approve Canada's participation in EULEX Kosovo.
...
The mission is settling in
Le 16 October 2012, the COPS decides to renew the mandate of the head of EULEX Kosovo, the former French general Bout de Marnhac, for a few more months (until 31 January 2013). The leader of Eulex extended
Le 29 October 2012, Mats Mattsson takes up his duties as the new head of the executive division. Swede named head of EULEX executive division
Tuesday 4 December 2012, the choice of a new head of mission is approved by the COPS ambassadors. German diplomat Bernd Borchardt is appointed as of 1 February 2013. A new chef soon for Eulex KosovoA choice made in favour of a diplomat rather than a military man, a German rather than an Italian. The future head of Eulex, profile and nationality
Le March 4, 2013, French Gendarmerie Colonel Joëlle Vachter takes up her duties as deputy chief. Colonel Vachter takes over as number 2 at Eulex Kosovo
Le June 4, 2013, the EU General Court dismisses the company's appeal Elitalia, one of the oldest private Italian helicopter companies, which disputes not having been selected to provide emergency services for the mission. A missed helicopter public contract at EULEX Kosovo = Lawsuit
Le 24 October 2013, in a letter addressed to the High Representative, a European trade union denounces the dismissal of several dozen international contract workers from the Eulex mission and the lack of recourse. The start of a long legal battle. Impasse for EULEX contract workers, the union seizes Lady Ashton
An evolution of the mandate
[To analyse] November 2013. EULEX Kosovo's mandate could evolveThe discussion started at the level of EU ambassadors.
To be continued...
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
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