Will the EU mission in Kosovo ‘sink’ due to allegations on corruption within the EULEX? As stated, in EULEX affair are involved a former boss, one former and several current prosecutors and one judge of this mission, Pristina, Sarajevo and Belgrade media, including the Brussels.
Three influential members of the European Parliament (when it comes to Kosovo issue) Doris Pack, Ulrike Lunacek and Eduard Kukan requested investigations of the allegations on corruption in the EULEX by an independent body. At the same time the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, is considering the possibility that European Office for Combating Corruption investigate the allegations. Referring to the German sources, Pristina media claim that the EU mission in Kosovo will be “closed as soon as possible” and that “Germany in November will request a reduction of EULEX competences.” If Mogherini opt for investigation, it would be the first public independent investigation of this kind since the introduction of a UN protectorate in Kosovo and Metohija in 1999, although for the last 15 years there are “rumors” that international missions and organizations, responsible for developing “new Kosovo reality”, are not immune to the bribery and corruption.
The work of EULEX from the beginning is problematic, primarily from the perspective of international law. Although EULEX declarative calls on the Resolution 1244, the story of status-neutral functioning of the Mission immediately fell into the water, because in practice, EULEX work to “strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo”, which means building institutions and law enforcement of the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo. So far, no one in Brussels, as well in Belgrade, saw it as a problem.
The fact is that neither Albanians nor Serbs, especially Serbs from the north like the EULEX mission. Pristina is asking its abolition for a long time, although this June, Mission’s mandate was extended until 2016. The majority of Serbs see EULEX as the extended hand of the unilaterally declared independent state of Kosovo, especially after a series of arrests and several indictments against their “prominent” compatriots. Amid corruption scandals, Belgrade has also revealed that EULEX “falsified allegations of the Serbian Ministry of Interior”, what was seen as a “EULEX alibi” for Ivanovic’s detention. Independent investigation of corruption in EULEX is necessary. The only question is whether recent happening lead to abolishing the mission, which regardless of all the failures, is the only international institution, (not counting the symbolic presence of UNMIK) which divides Serbs from living under the absolute authority of Pristina.
