British media write about corruption in EULEX and how the work of this mission went to “deel”

British media on their front pages yesterday and today have devoted great importance to the scandals taking place within the European Union's largest mission, EULEX.

The newspaper Express.co.uk has in all presented the confession of former EULEX Judges Chairman Malcolm Simmons, who, in addition, said EULEX for political motives was aimed at eliminating Fatmir Limaj's political scene, and final judgments unfounded as in the Drenica group's case broadcast Indeksonline.

Mr. Malcolm Simmons's resignation and his reporting of corruption within EULEX has made a major echo in EU political and media circles.

British Malcolm Simmons has quit his job in the European Union mission in Kosovo after accusing other senior EULEX members of corruption and misuse.

Malcolm Simmons, who has been the mission's top judge since 2014, told the British newspaper that he had denounced several cases of corruption at the heart of the EULEX mission in recent weeks and claimed that the organisation, known as EULEX, was subject to political interference.

Simmons has also accused another judge of attacking his e - mail account and sharing his e - mails with other judges.

He has also accused a judge of the mission of intimate relations with a Kosovo lawyer, who allegedly received a favour in a judicial duty. Simmons accused the British and European Foreign Ministry of failing to act on its warnings of corruption.

All this goes against normal procedure, I've asked the British and EU Foreign Office to forward it to the police, but they refused to support me”.

The mission, which employs about 800 people, is tasked with improving Kosovo's judicial and legal system, providing international judges and prosecutors with important cases and mentoring local officials.

But Mr. Simmons said in reality that the mission's goal was political. He in another interview for the French newspaper Le Monde said that “EULEX is not a mission meant to promote rule of law. It's a political mission. Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive or foolish “, saying he had come under pressure to convict a Kosovo politician because the mission did not want him to stay in the upcoming elections.
He added: “EULEX wanted to lower a portion of the Kosovo political class”.

Simons also said he had written to EU foreign policy chief Federica Moghrin twice to complain about corruption on the mission, but received no answer.

For me, this clearly shows how the European Union does not deal with corruption... they want to press this issue. They don't do anything. I don't want to be part of this farse” anymore, he said.

In Brussels, EU foreign policy spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said the EU, as well as EULEX, act a zero tolerance policy against allegations of improper behaviour and all members of the mission are responsible for their actions.
Without commenting on the ongoing investigation, Kocijancic said all charges were investigated and, in case, referred to on a disciplinary board.