The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo EULEX
The U.S – European Heroes in Law-Enforcement
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo EULEX is one of the largest Law-Enforcement Mission, under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), launched by EU Member States in February 2008, and reached full Operational capacity in April 2009. The central aim of the mission is to assist and support the Kosovo Authorities in the Rule of Law area, specifically in the Police, Judiciary and Customs areas.
EULEX Customs and Police Officers received praise for their work 2009 ©The EULEX
EULEX implements its mandate through two operational objectives:
It also fosters contacts with Law-Enforcement and Police, Judicial Authorities in the Region and with INTERPOL and EUROPOL, to ensure their support to all investigations and liaises with relevant Serbian Authorities. The mission consists mainly of: Judges, Prosecutors, Law-Enforcement, Police Officers, and Customs Officials.
With the Headquarters in Pristina, EULEX has a unified Chain of Command to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and to EU Member States (Political and Security Committee).
The Contributing Nations are from most of EU member States as well as Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States.
Austrian Law-Enforcement and their significant contributions in the EULEX Kosovo October 2014 © Osterreich BMI
The U.S National Guard working with KFOR and EULEX 2010 © The North Dakota National Guard
January 2017
Interview with the Deputy Head of EULEX Kosovo
In the first exclusive interview series of 2017, we have the greatest honour to hear point of view from Brigadier General Bernd Thran, Deputy Head of EULEX Kosovo about the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo EULEX.
Brigadier General Bernd Thran, Deputy Head of EULEX Kosovo, 2017 © EULEX/ Deutschland in der Welt
Q: Herr General would you please give us an overview to EULEX mission and its operational pillars.
First of all allow me to thank you for giving me, and the Mission, the opportunity to explain what EULEX has already achieved and will continue to deliver throughout its current mandate. But back to your question: in June 2016 the Member States of the European Union and the Kosovo Government agreed on a new mandate for EULEX, leading to the creation of a new Operational Plan to direct the Mission’s activities until June 2018 when the current mandate expires. The EULEX mandate consists of two operational objectives: monitoring, mentoring and advising, and executive. These are delivered through the Strengthening and Executive Divisions.
In order to strengthen the chain of criminal justice, EULEX continues to provide Monitoring, Mentoring and Advising (MMA) activities at the strategic level to Kosovo’s rule of law institutions. The Mission delivers assistance to the senior management of the Kosovo Judicial Council, Kosovo Prosecutorial Council, Ministry of Justice, Kosovo Police, Civil Registry and Kosovo Correctional Services. In addition, EULEX provides support to the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina by assisting the implementation of remaining dialogue agreements within the sphere of the rule of law.
EULEX will continue to implement the rule of law through our executive objective to ensure that the services are delivered until the progress of local authorities allows complete transition of executive functions. Our judges and prosecutors are embedded in Kosovo institutions and serve in accordance with Kosovo law. The focus is on the support to constitutional and civil justice as well as prosecution and adjudication of selected criminal cases both exclusively and jointly with the Kosovo prosecution authorities.
The new mandate reflects the fact that Kosovo institutions are demonstrating growing confidence and capacity in the rule of law area. As a result, the Kosovo authorities are increasingly able to assume a whole range of rule of law tasks on their own. Our job until the end of the current mandate is to gradually transfer the remaining executive responsibilities over the rule of law area to Kosovo, taking into consideration the capability and potential of our local counterparts.
Continue to read the interview
November 2016
Senior Police Adviser, Oliver Hoffmann (from Stuttgart Polizei) describes the role of EULEX Police in Kosovo
2016 © EULEX
May 2016
EULEX on Border Security Training
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo ‘EULEX’ upgrades the Expertise of its Border Security Officers
May 11, 2106 © EULEX
In the first week of May, EULEX conducted a special Training for the Law-Enforcement on ‘Drug Detection Training Course’. Described by EULUX Public Office, the training was delivered by two UK Border Force Trainers at Pristina International Airport (PIA), and aimed to upgrade the expertise of the Kosovo Border Police and Customs Officers in the areas of:
– Border Security
– Detect/seizing all categories of prohibited drugs
– And control/interview and arrest the drug traffickers. May 11, 2106 © EULEX
The Leadership of Austria in EULEX
Austrian Law-Enforcement in EULEX Kosovo 2014 ©Osterreich BMI
As a EU member State– in the last 50 years Austria has been one of the most important contributor to the European and International Law-Enforcement Missions in overseas, including in the recent years deployments in : Afghanistan, Georgia, Kosovo and Palestine.
September 2015
The United States ensured more support for EULEX in Kosovo
The U.S Ambassador and the Head of EULEX, Kosovo, September 25,2015 ©The EULEX
The U.S Ambassador Greg Delawie to Kosovo met with the Head of EULEX Mission Gabriele Meucci at EULEX Headquarters to discuss range of issues on strengthening the Rule of Law in Kosovo. The meeting was also to ensure, the United States support for continuation of EULEX Mission.
August 2015
The Leadership of U.S Army and the National Guard in EULEX
The U.S National Guard and the ‘EULEX CPF’ during training in Kosovo. August 31, 2015 ©The U.S Army/Sgt. Erick Yates
As a part of ongoing Training, in August 2015 the U.S. Army EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) technicians form the Alabama National Guard’s 666th held a special Training for the Security Officers of the Close Protection Force from the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo ‘EULEX’s CPF’ on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.
The Training was formulated to upgrade, the Close Protection Force Unite of the EULEX, with the latest techniques on how to detect the explosive devices including the IEDs
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