EULEX chief Bernd Borhard stated that in new mandate the mission will work “together” with Kosovo institutions, instead of performing their functions. In the areas in which EULEX cooperates with Serbian law enforcement, solution for the direct engagement of Kosovo side should be sought.
“Instead of working the job of Kosovo institutions, the mission will increasingly work together with them. We will take a step backwards; we will become navigator rather than a driver,” said Borhard. “A good example is the cooperation with Kosovo police in the north, which has recently worked with us and the Serbian police in case of arrest of a group specialized in stealing cars in Zvecan. However, in certain areas we will retain certain executive functions, and we will fulfill our obligations related to the implementation of the dialogue,” he said.
The mission will continue to implement the relevant parts of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, EULEX chief said, adding that the mission is ready to help implementation of the agreement on judiciary. Till that time EULEX judges and prosecutors will continue to work in the north. “We will have judges, who will be members of the panels, but instead of two international judges, a panel composed of three members will consist of two local judges,” he said.
When asked whether Kosovo Police and Kosovo courts are willing to take over the cases of the most serious crimes, Borhard said that, since he became the head of the mission, he saw that in work with EULEX officials, the local judges, prosecutors, police and customs officers improved the methods and standards and that local authorities are able to independently solve more cases. “There is less fear and much less sense of impunity. Local authorities expressed their willingness to deal with a larger number of cases, which is a good start. Nonetheless, we are aware that they require extra effort and help, so for now we will not reduce our responsibility. ”
When asked whether EULEX will continue the current practice that EULEX judges and prosecutors have the right to decide which cases should be processed, Borhard said that the Chief Kosovo Prosecutor will distribute the cases. “In exceptional circumstances, the Chief EULEX Prosecutor will be able to ask the chief Kosovo Prosecutor that an international prosecutor gets the case. There is also the possibility that, in exceptional circumstances, a majority in the chamber consists of EULEX judges,” he added.
Speaking about the situation in northern Kosovo, EULEX chief said that local institutions in northern Kosovo are developing and the context in which mission work has significantly changed because of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, as well thanks to the support of EULEX.
Referring to the situation on the River Ibar, Borhard said that EULEX’s role is to provide different instance of the response in terms of security, while the Kosovo police have the leading place. “That’s how we reacted during recent protests. This matter is resolved at the political level,” he said.
He said that he briefed the Serbian officials on the new mandate of EULEX and that he spoke with them about ways to fight against people who “steal money from the Serbian economy while dealing with the smuggling of excise goods via so-called green border”. “It is necessary that Serbia no longer lose the money from these thieves who damage the Serbian economy and the Serbian people”, said the Head of the EULEX mission.
