The EU Rule of Law Mission to become operative in the whole of Kosovo
Press release 459/2008
9 December, 2008
The European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) started to implement its mandate in the whole of Kosovo on 9 December. EULEX is the largest civilian crisis management operation for the European Union – and also for Finland – to date.
The main aim of the operation is to help the Kosovo authorities create an independent and multi-ethnic police, judicial, border control and customs system meeting international standards. The goal is that monitoring, mentoring and advice will strengthen the preparedness of Kosovo authorities to assume responsibility for the activities of their own institutions. Some of the tasks of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) will be transferred to EULEX now that it has begun operations.
At the start of the operations, there are about 1,000 international experts and about 500 local workers in the field. EULEX is to reach its full operative capacity in late winter. Then its strength will be about 1,900 international police officers, border officials, judicial experts such as judges, prosecutors and correctional service specialists, and customs experts. In addition, about 1,100 local staff will be hired for the operation. The operation will also have a reserve of about 300 international police officers and border officials, who can be sent as additional support if needed. The countries outside the EU participating in the operation are the United States, Switzerland, Norway, Croatia and Turkey.
About 60 Finnish experts will take part in the operation. Most of them will work as experts in the sectors of police work, border control and judicial services.
Additional information: Timo Kantola, Head of the Unit for Security Policy and Crisis Management, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5480, and Helinä Kokkarinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 9 1604 4638