EU-police mission to Macedonia in pipeline after Operation Concordia

Date:18/09/03

By David Cronin

PLANS are being drawn up for an EU-led police mission in Macedonia. Officials at the Council of Ministers say its working party on the Western Balkans has had discussions about the Union launching such a mission in recent weeks. It is thought it will commence once Operation Concordia, the EU's first-ever military undertaking, ends in Macedonia on 15 December.

One Council insider confirmed "detailed planning is under way". The Union's foreign ministers are due to discuss the possible mission at their 29-30 September meeting.

It is anticipated that the policing operation would be smaller than the EU Police Mission in Bosnia (EUPM), which has more than 500 officers from 33 countries, including Russia and Canada. Sources suggest it could have 150-200 officers and that its mandate would be limited to "non-executive policing such as mentoring and advisory work" with the local police.

Nicholas Whyte, a Balkans analyst with the International Crisis Group, said that while it is accepted the EUPM is "the model on the shelf" for an operation in Macedonia, the issues surrounding policing are markedly different between the two ex-Yugoslav republics. In Bosnia, one of the EUPM's tasks has been to reduce corruption in the local police force, he explained, whereas in Macedonia the primary need for the police force will be one of training. Operation Concordia, which involves 350 troops and was launched at the end of March, originally had a six-month mandate but it has been extended to 15 December following a request from President Boris Trajkowski in July.

The ruling coalition Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia is eager for the country to be in charge of its own security. But Albanian opposition parties query if Concordia should wind up yet. A 7 September operation in the northern village of Brest, which left two Albanian teenagers dead, has provided ammunition for the argument that local security forces cannot yet be given greater responsibilities. But an EU diplomat said the assumption is that Concordia will end on 15 December unless Skopje seeks another extension. "There is no question of the EU staying one day more than what Trajkowski asks us," the source added.

A Council of the European Union working party is preparing plans for a European Union-led police mission in Macedonia. Operation Concordia, the EU's first military undertaking ends in Macedonia on 15 December 2003. EU Foreign Ministers are due to consider the possible police mission when they meet on 29-30 September 2003.