EULEX continues work in Kosovo despite discontent

The European Union's Mission for the End of Law EULEX continues to be present in Kosovo, but acting with limited competence in its role.

According to the Kosovo and European Union institutions agreement, EULEX expires its mandate on June 14th, but as this mandate is reported, it is expected to continue.

An agreement between Kosovo and the EU is required for continuing the mandate of this mission.

By 2018 the competencies and responsibilities of the EULEX mission have been largely reduced.

This mission is focused mainly on monitoring the work of courts and prosecutors regarding strategic or interest cases, whether for the public or areas of interest for international partners.

Ehat Miftaraj, the judge of the justice system, director of the Kosovo Institute for Justice, considers that the mission's greatest achievements have been at the beginning of the mandate mainly in 2009-2013, where Kosovo had managed to build institutions of integrity and professionality such as police, the Correcting Service, courts and prosecutors.

Miftaraj stresses that EULEX has also had major failures. According to him, the failure of this mission relates to the lack of political will to investigate high-level corruption.

“Citizens and the public may still demand this mission account for the lack of results in the fight against organised crime and high-level corruption, including war crimes, during 2008 through 2014, when this mission has behind executive competence and key role in these areas. By 2014 these competencies have been transferred to local authorities, who even have responsibilities for any failure”, Mifaraj said.

Kosovo institutions officials have said the justice system in Kosovo has managed to build its powerful capacities to assume responsibilities.

Rhesa Hoxha from the Committee for Jury, Political Studies says EULEX as the largest EU mission established in Kosovo for more than a decade has been organised in two divisions. The first, according to her, is the executive division and the power division.

Both divisions, she says, have focused on investigating criminal substances, monitoring and supporting police forces, courts and customs.

“From these two divisions, the strengthening division has been more successful by empowering local institutions and building the civil registration system from the start, as well as the work they did with customs. As for the judicial part or the executive division, it could be said that they failed to fulfill their intentions as it has been thought. Moreover, it can be said that this division has failed to fight organised crime, corruption and high-level cases. At the same time, the fact that the mission itself has been put on different charges shows the level of shortcomings that characterise this” mission, Hoxha said.

Radio Free Europe has tried to get an answer from EULEX officials regarding the jobs they have done recently and what are the current jobs that they are doing, but so far, they have not answered questions.

Some citizens in Pristina think that the European Union mission in Kosovo should complete the mission and should not continue the mandate for continued work.

Mummin Murtor, an engineer by profession, told Radio Free Europe, that EULEX has not made the contribution it has come to Kosovo.

If they had come with good intentions, many would have been able to do it, but unfortunately they haven't done anything. Let's go. No honest job I can believe they did, if all the people had done it, it would be for them to stay”, Murtor said.

Selver Dark feels similarly. He says mission EULEX as well as that of UNMIK alone has spent money.

“Even UNMIK and EULEX have finished the mission. They didn't do anything, they just got money from”, said the Dirmaker.

Given the estimates of nongovernmental organisations in Kosovo, the EU mission has not met expectations, especially in fighting organised crime and corruption.

EULEX Kosovo began in 2008 as the largest civilian mission under the European Union's Common Policy for Security and Protection.

The mission today EULEX is assisting Kosovo authorities in establishing stable and independent institutions of rule of law.

The mission continues to support the Specialised Chambers and the Office of Specialised Prosecutor at The Hague in line with Kosovo's relevant legislation.