Current affairs

Finland announced on Monday it will recognise Kosovo's independence and it will launch national preparations to this end. European Union foreign ministers reached an agreement concerning the EU stand on the independence declaration of Kosovo. Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva considers the result very important with regard to the development of the region and the unity of the EU.

The EU has decided to launch the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo, which will take over certain tasks from the UN Mission in Kosovo. The mission is a civilian crisis management operation under the European Security and Defence Policy. It will be the largest civilian crisis management operation for the EU – and at the same time, for Finland – to date, with a total recruitment of about 3,000 international and local staff. The estimated number of Finnish experts is 60–70.