The Mission

The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) was launched in 2008 as the largest civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union. EULEX’s overall mission is to support selected rule of law institutions in Kosovo on their path towards increased effectiveness, sustainability, multi-ethnicity and accountability, free from political interference and in line with international human rights standards and best European practices.

EULEX’s current mandate has been launched to cover the period until 14 June 2025 based on Council Decision 2023/1095. Within its mandate, the Mission undertakes monitoring, mentoring, and advising activities and has limited executive functions.

The Mission works within the framework of UN Security Council resolution 1244.

The Mandate

EULEX Kosovo implements its mandate through Monitoring and Operations Support Pillars.

Through its Case Monitoring Unit, the Monitoring Pillar conducts a robust monitoring of selected cases, which covers the entire chain of criminal justice as well as civil justice cases on property and privatization issues. The Pillar also focuses its monitoring activities on selected cases which were dealt with by EULEX under its executive mandate that ended in mid-June 2018 and were later handed over to the local judiciary as well as other cases.

Through its Correctional Unit, the Monitoring Pillar also supports the Kosovo Correctional Service (KCS) in developing a professional management team through monitoring, mentoring and advising and through a continued presence in KCS facilities. The Correctional Unit also helps the KCS increase its capacities in providing rehabilitation of prisoners.

Through EULEX’s Senior Police Advisors in northern Kosovo, the Monitoring Pillar advises Kosovo Police’s Region North Directorate and the four police stations under its command on a number of issues related to the provision of policing services.

Operational functions are undertaken by the Mission’s Operations Support Pillar, which maintains a limited residual capability as a Kosovo’s second security responder, where Kosovo Police is the first security responder, EULEX is the second one, and KFOR is the third security responder. EULEX also supports the Kosovo Police in the field of international police cooperation by facilitating the exchange of information between the Kosovo Police and Interpol, Europol or the Serbian Ministry of Interior. The Mission also assists the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office by providing logistic and operational support in line with relevant Kosovo legislation. In addition, EULEX experts continue to work together with their local counterparts at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to determine the fate of missing persons by offering expertise and advice in the identification of potential clandestine graves and the exhumation and identification of victims from the Kosovo conflict. Last but not least, the Mission continues to manage its own witness protection programme.

Head of Mission: Mr. Giovanni Pietro Barbano

EULEX is committed to fulfil its obligation to mainstream gender and human rights in all its activities, both within the Mission and while working with Kosovo institutions.

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