EU offers to run Kosovo administration after war

Date: 15/04/1999

By Simon Taylor

THE EU is prepared to take over the administration of Kosovo once NATO airstrikes have achieved their aim.

The idea of the Union running the province until elections were held to appoint a new government emerged at an informal summit of Union leaders in Brussels last night (14 April). "The European Union has the vocation and capacity to fill this role," said French President Jacques Chirac after the meeting.

However, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder declined to say how long the EU was prepared to remain in charge. "I cannot give any time on the length of the civil administration. We can only see what it could be closer to the time," he said.

Asked about the danger that Kosovo could turn into an EU protectorate which would require an open-ended commitment, the chancellor said: "For me, the biggest danger is the current situation, the risk of people being chased out of Kosovo."

Schröder confirmed that a conference on south eastern Europe would be held to plan further measures for the region's long-term stabilisation and economic reconstruction.

Union leaders underlined their support for the NATO attacks on Serbia until Slobodan Milosevic bows to the military alliance's demands. "It is the view of the heads of state and government of EU and NATO countries that military action will continue unabated," said Schröder.

Summiteers also distanced themselves from a six-point peace plan drawn up by German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, which envisaged a NATO ceasefire before Milosevic had fully withdrawn his troops from Kosovo.