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Future EU Role and Contribution in Kosovo

Mr Solana and Mr Rehn were mandated by Council in February 2005 to explore the EU's possible contribution to the international community's efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1244, including the evaluation of the Kosovo Standards and the process towards a settlement of Kosovo's Status, as well as the EU's role in the later stages in Kosovo. Their report to today's Council is part of an on-going process and presents some initial ideas to the Council.

Given the European Perspective of Kosovo offered by the EU Council at Thessaloniki in 2003, there is a general expectation that the EU will play a crucial role in the forthcoming efforts to determine Kosovo's future status and beyond after a Status Agreement. The EU has from the outset made a major political, technical and economic contribution to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (which establishes a civilian presence in Kosovo).

Kosovo is now entering a critical phase. A comprehensive review of the implementation of the Kosovo Standards by the Provisional Institutions of Self-government (PISG) is to be carried out this summer. It may lead to the launching of negotiations, and ultimately a settlement, on Kosovo's future status. The UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) will be preparing the ground to hand over to a newly defined international presence following a settlement of Kosovo's status.

1. Standards implementation and review

The paper suggests that the EU should:

• continue its support of UNMIK and the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government regarding Standards implementation;
  
• be closely involved in the comprehensive review process of the Standards supporting Ambassador Kai Eide's work;

2. UNMIK restructuring

UNMIK is planning to gradually transfer powers and responsibilities to the PISG, in conjunction with continued institution capacity-building. The EU should consider increasing its support to the PISG for institutional capacity-building. This could be shared with other international partners (e.g. OSCE, Council of Europe).

3. Status Process

The Council's approach to the Status process will be based on the following key guiding principles:

• Kosovo must not return to the situation before March 1999 and Belgrade and Pristina must move towards Euro-Atlantic integration;
  
• Kosovo's Status must be based on multi-ethnicity; the protection of minorities; the protection of cultural and religious heritage; and effective mechanisms for fighting organised crime and terrorism;
  
• The solution of Kosovo's Status must strengthen regional security and stability;
  
• Accordingly, there must be no change in the current territory of Kosovo (i.e. no partition of Kosovo and no union of Kosovo with any country or part of any country after the resolution of Kosovo's status);
  
• Any solution must be fully compatible with European values and standards and contribute to realising the European Perspective of Kosovo and of the region;
  
• Kosovo will continue to need international civilian and military presences.

The EU's role in the Status process

The UN will take the lead, sending a UN envoy who will be accompanied by other international envoys. The EU envoy should be selected by the Council on the recommendation of the HR in close cooperation with the Commission and the Presidency.

4. The EU's contribution to an international presence in the post-UNSCR 1244 phase

• Continuation of the EU's role in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process;]
  
• Further strengthening and streamlining of the EU presence on the ground - Office of the Personal Representative of the HR and the Office of the European Commission in Pristina;
  
• The future international civilian presence could take the form of an international office with an important EU component but cannot be EUMIK;
  
• The future military presence should continue to be entrusted to NATO;
  
• Core areas will be the protection of minorities and the rule of law (police and justice).
  Financial implications Resources may have to be provided from both the Community budget and from the EU Member States' budgets.

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• Summary of press remarks by EUHR Solana in Kosovo (6/12/2005)
• EUHR Solana appoints personal representative in Pristina (2/12/2005)
• Key findings of 2005 Progress Reports on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo (9/11/2005)
• EUHR Solana condemns violence in Kosovo (29/8/2005)
• EIB signs framework agreement with UNMIK for Kosovo (3/5/2005)
• A European Future for Kosovo (20/4/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (24/2/2005)