With the aim of seeing how the mission is functioning on the ground, the Head of EULEX, Xavier de Marnhac, visited the region of Gjilan/Gnjilane. De Marnhac met with EULEX staff, including the administrative support, EULEX members of the three components and their local counterparts.

At the EULEX premises in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Michele Sabatini, the Regional Administrative Coordinator for the region, briefed de Marnhac about the current work and the challenges.

“It is much easier for me to understand the mission if I take the time and talk to the mission members and listen to what they have to say”, said de Marnhac at the meeting with the EULEX staff members, where he presented his vision and the three priorities for the mission: re-establishing the rule of law in the north, fighting organised crime and corruption, and enforcement of monitoring, mentoring and advising (MMA).

In Gjilan/Gnjilane de Marnhac met Elmina Mahmuti, the Regional Director of Kosovo Police (KP), where they discussed cooperation between EULEX and KP and the challenges ahead.

“We have had great cooperation with EULEX. We work very closely together”, said Mahmuti, adding that “relations between the different communities are very good and without any significant inter-ethnic incidents”

De Marnhac concluded his visit at the Gjilan/Gnjilane District Court where he met EULEX judges and prosecutors and their local counterparts.