The EULEX rule of law mission in Kosovo is the largest Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) mission to date. EULEX’s mission statement was set in 2008 in a Council Joint Action. EULEX’s designated mission is to “assist the Kosovo institutions, judicial authorities and law enforcement agencies in their progress towards sustainability and accountability and in further devel- oping and strengthening an independent multi-ethnic justice system and multi-ethnic police and customs service, ensuring that these institutions are free from political interference and adhering to internationally recognized standards and European best practices. The EULEX rule of law mission, in addition to maintaining some executive functions, was built to support the capacity building and development of Kosovo’s rule of law institutions. A core function of EULEX was to coach – monitor, mentor, and advise (MMA) – Kosovo’s rule of law institutions in establishing institutional practices that support the country’s overall democratization. However, “despite significant EU assistance, progress in improving the rule of law is limited”. The stakes are high – as the largest CSDP mission – “a EULEX failure in Kosovo would be a failure of the European project in Kosovo, and potentially in the entire region of the western Balkans.