EU ready to establish mission in Kosovo

With Kosovo widely expected to declare its independence this Sunday (17 February), the EU is poised to put in place an international presence in the country, under a plan for supervised independence.

An EU-led political office and the EU’s 1,800-strong rule of law mission, Eulex, are to take over from the current UN administration after a build-up period of 120 days.

The appointment of Pieter Feith as the EU’s special representative (EUSR) for Kosovo - he is currently deputy director-general for politico-military affairs at the Council of Ministers - was to be made public today (14 February).

Foreign ministers of the EU member states, who have been divided over whether to recognise Kosovo’s independence, are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Monday (18 February).

Dozens of countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and the US, are expected to recognise Kosovo’s independence within days of any declaration. Others will follow a few weeks later. EU member states Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia and Romania are reluctant to recognise Kosovo but have not tried to prevent the EU’s two missions.

Serbia and Russia oppose independence for Kosovo and the EU’s planned presence. Serbia has threatened action against Kosovo as well as countries which recognise it.

Feith will also be international civilian representative and head the International Civilian Office (ICO), which will have 75 international and 200 local staff in offices in the capital Pristina and in majority-Serb north Mitrovica.

The role of the ICO and Eulex - made up of judges, prosecutors, policemen and border guards - was outlined in the so-called Ahtisaari plan for supervised independence of February 2007, which was sponsored by the UN, rejected by the Serbian government and accepted by the Kosovars.

Under the Ahtisaari plan, the EU missions will primarily play an advisory role backed up by sweeping executive powers. They can repeal laws and remove public officials if they obstruct implementation of the political settlement, which includes extensive provisions for the protection of Kosovo’s minorities.

With Kosovo widely expected to declare its independence this Sunday (17 February), the EU is poised to put in place an international presence in the country, under a plan for supervised independence.