Kosovo Serbs employed at the headquarters of the EULEX mission in Pristina accused the mission of discrimination on ethnic and linguistic grounds due to the announcement on non-extension of their contracts, because they do not understand or do not speak fluent Albanian.
As stated in the announcement of their legal representative, Axel Reiter, “it is almost certain that, from November, no Kosovo Serb will work in the EULEX headquarters in Pristina.”
“After they learned of this decision, all affected employees have written a request to the EULEX chief with arguments against the decision and consequences it will cause. After the request to the Head of Mission to reconsider the decision, applicants were disappointed when they learned that he had supported the discrimination,” reads the statement.
It adds that EULEX refused the request of Serbs to settle the dispute by arbitration, although it is envisioned by their contract of employment.
“The mission has responded that its Kosovo workers cannot challenge the decisions and actions of this mission. EULEX refused their contractual right to arbitration, by claiming to be above and not the subject to the laws and Constitution of Kosovo,” the statement said.
EULEX employees of Serbian nationality subsequently petitioned the Supreme Court of Kosovo, asking the institution to order EULEX to take part in proceedings before an independent and impartial tribunal, or that they be stripped of immunity and deal with the applicants before the Kosovo courts.
“Dealing with the legal profession, from the very heart of the European Union, we are upset that we can see that this mission, manifestation of the EU, is trampling human rights in this way”, said Reiter.
