On 10 March 2014, Group for Legal and Political Studies and Democratization Policy Council, in cooperation with European Policy Centre (EPC, Brussels) and  the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS, Brussels), hosted a Roundtable Discussion entitled: “Phasing out the EULEX Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo: Lessons learned and prospects for CSDP”.  The Roundtable, which took place in Brussels, aimed to exchange views on the ongoing debate about the future of the EULEX mission in Kosovo and discussed lessons that can be learned for future CSDP missions. In December 2008, the European Union launched the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX, following Kosovo’s declaration of independence. With EULEX, the Union undertook its largest Common Security and Defence Policy mission ever, demonstrating its interest in being a serious actor in international crisis management in a region where the EU’s failure in the 1990s had provided the main motivation for the creation of a common European foreign and security policy. Yet from the very start, EULEX received criticism from local authorities, member states, the European Parliament and the European Court of Auditors. With the EULEX mandate ending in June 2014, the mandate and design of a follow-up mission are now being discussed, alongside negotiations with Kosovo for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement aimed at strengthening the rule of law.

Panelists in Attendance:

Ms. Eva Gross, Senior Analyst, European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), Brussels;

Mr. Bodo Weber, Berlin based senior associate of the Democratization Policy Council (DPC);

Mr. Fisnik Korenica, Executive Director, Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS);

Ms. Rosa Balfour, Senior Policy Analyst and Head of the Europe in the World Programme, European Policy Centre, Brussels.

Venue:

Conference room, Residence Palace, 4th floor

Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels