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The EULEX mission grappling with a “dirty” affair

One of the judgments delivered by EULEX Kosovo, in Prizren (credit: EULEX Kosovo)
One of the judgments delivered by EULEX Kosovo, in Prizren (credit: EULEX Kosovo)

(BRUSSELS2) A prosecutor accused of corruption, another suspected of having leaked documents outside, a third of having blocked an investigation, all three being among the highest placed in the hierarchy of the EULEX mission. The news made headlines in Kosovar and Serbian newspapers, much less elsewhere. It is a "dirty" affair that the European "Rule of Law" mission, deployed in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo), has to deal with, which could quickly take a more European turn.

European authorities soon to be seized

The European Parliament could, in fact, seize it as early as next week. Some MEPs want an independent investigation to be carried out. For the High Representative, Federica Mogherini, who is just taking office today, this is not good news. Especially since the entire "chain of responsibility" is now Italian: from the High Representative to the head of mission through the main suspect in the case.

Several capitals primarily concerned

The subject has become a quasi-state affair in Kosovo. And it could make headlines soon in the various European capitals. Berlin, London and Rome are primarily concerned, because of the nationality of the people involved: the head of the mission under which the facts took place is German, the new one who must manage the case is Italian. And three leading magistrates are also involved: a Briton (the whistleblower), an Italian (suspected of corruption), a Czech (suspected of having blocked the investigation).

A real thriller...

The facts are quite simple at the outset. The family of one of the people accused by the EULEX prosecutors denounced the fact of having had to pay quite significant bribes – we are talking about 350.000 euros – to one of the Italian prosecutors of the mission. Another magistrate of the mission (British) has, on the basis of telephone tapping and testimonies, seized her superiors. She, in turn, is accused of having communicated confidential documents to the outside world, in particular to the press (or perhaps more seriously to certain defendants), and has been suspended. The investigation has been underway, very discreetly, for a year now.

Pay attention to simple ideas

According to the first information collected by B2, the presentation of the facts with a magistrate draping herself in the role of the anti-corruption herald, and victim of her hierarchy (*), is not so simple. And the possibilities of manipulation aimed at destabilizing the EULEX mission are not to be scorned.

An attempt to destabilize EULEX

It wouldn't be the first time either. But this could be particularly elaborate and make it possible to put down in particular the idea of ​​a special court in charge of trying people, very close to the former leaders of the UCK and the power in Pristina.

Endemic corruption

Many Kosovar people under indictment, such as certain officials in Pristina, sometimes high-level, have an interest in the departure of European prosecutors and police officers who are disturbing the game of a young state whose corruption is endemic.

Deep European errors

We also see how much the European authorities have underestimated the risk. And, still today, they try to minimize the matter.

The temptation to hide the dust under the rug

The case has been known internally for more than a year. But no political authority (Council, Parliament, etc.) has been officially informed. The establishment of an internal investigation, which we do not know to whom it is entrusted, nor for what reason, makes the situation even more confused. The various officials of the mission have not yet really taken the measure of a frank and detailed explanation of all aspects of the case. By taking refuge behind a so-called secrecy of the instruction, they only make the situation worse.

Disastrous crisis communication

Communication to the press is disastrous. No information to the press was made until the publication by Koha Ditore of the first information. And still it was necessary to wait more than 48 hours for a press conference to be organized in Pristina only. This while the EULEX authorities had known for nearly a week that an article was soon to appear. The European authorities took great care not to broadcast this press conference to Brussels, contenting themselves with minimal information. As if the European authorities had something to hide. Which does not lend itself to the tenderness of the press and contributes not a little to increase the tension. Tension is all the more palpable as the adviser is accused of having put pressure on the journalist Vehbi Kajtazi of Koha Ditore not to publish their information. We are, here, the opposite of all the well-known precepts in terms of crisis communication but not very often applied at European level.

Legal irresponsibility

Finally, it must be recognized, the EULEX mission is evolving in a legal no mans land which is not healthy. The Kosovo courts are not responsible, just like the European courts. The problem of the status of the mission's contractors proves it. They are wandered from one court to another who consider themselves incompetent in turn. Which is a real miscarriage of justice...

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

(*) A role she has already played in the United Kingdom, obtaining compensation of £250.000 at the end of an amicable procedure

Read also: our series of articles published on the Club (subscribers)

  1. Corruption case stirs up trouble at EULEX (October 28)
  2. Eulex case. Greens call for independent investigation (1 Nov)
  3. EULEX case. An attempt to pressure the press? (Nov 1)
  4. EULEX case. Head of Mission Meucci reacts. Additional details (1 Nov)

Read also: Crisis communication. Poor relative at European level? Remedies

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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