A Reserve Formed Police Unit made up of 92 members of the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) from Portugal, France and Italy will temporarily deploy to Kosovo in the coming weeks to reinforce the capacity of the existing EULEX Formed Police Unit (FPU).

The Reserve FPU will support EULEX in meeting its tasks, including as Kosovo’s second security responder if necessary, taking into consideration the security environment.

EULEX’s FPU is Kosovo’s second security responder and is part of a three-layer security responder mechanism where Kosovo Police is the first security responder, EULEX is the second one, and KFOR is the third security responder.

EULEX’s regular FPU currently consists of 105 Polish police officers stationed in Mitrovica. The Reserve FPU provided by the EUROGENDFOR is made up of 92 gendarmes: 42 from Portugal, 28 from France and 22 from Italy. They will be based at EULEX’s Support Compound in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje and be under the command of EULEX.  An advance team is expected to arrive today, 14 March.

The deployment of the Reserve FPU shows the determination of EULEX to continue to support the stability of Kosovo and contribute to the security of women, men, girls and boys from all communities in Kosovo.  

Background

The European Gendarmerie Force is a multinational, operational, pre-organised, robust, and rapidly deployable Police Force. EULEX’s Formed Police Unit is Kosovo’s second security responder and is providing continued support to the Kosovo Police crowd and riot control capability through advice and joint training sessions. The three-tier security responder mechanism in Kosovo consists of the Kosovo Police as the first security responder, EULEX as the second responder and the KFOR as the third. The aim of the second security responder is to de-escalate tensions and restore public order, as well as to protect life, integrity and property of all affected populations.