2009 Press Releases

Joint Statement of the International Civilian Representative and the Heads of Mission of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America on Kosovo and the Fight Against Cross-Border Criminality

September 10, 2009

In recent days, the International Civilian Representative and the Heads of Mission of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States have held discussions on the important topic of advancing the fight against international crime and corruption and on instruments and modalities to facilitate police cooperation in the region to that end.

On the basis of these discussions and consultations with our legal experts, we underscore that the European Rule of Law Mission’s (EULEX) mandate stems from the Joint Action of the Council of the European Union (COUNCIL JOINT ACTION 2008/124/CFSP). EULEX deployment was accepted by sovereign act of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, through the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the invitation to the Secretary-General/High Representative Solana to establish EULEX authored by the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu. The request from the Republic of Kosovo to receive support from EULEX is a sovereign act by Kosovo’s leadership.

The Republic of Kosovo’s support of this mission, which includes the participation of police, customs and justice officials from European countries, the United States and other nations, is a clear expression of its desire to combat cross-border criminality in the Western Balkans. 

Based upon our detailed examination of the legal issues surrounding the technical agreement between EULEX and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia on police cooperation, we conclude that the instruments of technical cooperation by EULEX made on its own behalf are consistent with its mandate to strengthen border management and have no bearing on the question of Kosovo’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.  The Republic of Kosovo is not a party to this technical arrangement, but we commend the commitment and interest of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo in combating illicit cross-border activities.   

We strongly support the work of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo for the Euro-Atlantic future of the Republic of Kosovo.