The political representatives of Kosovo Serbs have stated at the protest rally in Zubin Potok, northern Kosovo, that they are pondering collective resignation from the Kosovo institutions if the arrests of the Serbs in the Province are continued. They have called upon the international community and EULEX to immediately and unconditionally enable all the unjustly indicted Serbs to be released pending trial, otherwise they will be forced to consider the possibility of terminating the cooperation with EULEX.

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. 

BELGRADE - Ivica Dacic, Serbia's first deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said on Monday in a meeting with Head of EULEX Mission in Kosovo-Metohija Bernd Borchardt that the presence of that and other international actors in Kosovo, such as UNMIK and KFOR, is a guarantor of Serbs' survival in Kosovo-Metohija.

Dacic told Borchardt that Serbia expects EULEX to continue conducting its activities in the same scope of jurisdiction in the next two years, reads a release issued by the ministry of foreign affairs.

Czech Interior Minister, Milan Chovanec, said it is impossible for EULEX to leave Kosovo in two years’ time. He thinks the EU mission should leave only when Kosovo and Serbia join the EU.

“The number of EULEX police officers should not be downsized. They are key factors that continue to maintain a good situation. Police will stay for as long as necessary”, said Chonavec for the Czech news agency, CTK.

“The ideal solution would be when Serbia and Kosovo would join the EU and accept European rules”, he added.

The road in Brdjani in North Mitrovica was unblocked after an hour.

Deputy President of the Municipal Assembly of Mitrovica North, Emir Azemi said that this morning the Albanians began to build in Brdjani. Soon, people who identified themselves as building inspectors appeared and requested them to stop the works, what caused revolt and blockade.

On the spot were present members of the Kosovo police, after which arrived KFOR and EULEX members.

 The blockade was finished without incidents.

BELGRADE - The rule of law remains a priority for Eulex, as does the implementation of what has been agreed in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the head of the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, Bernd Borchardt, has said.

Borchardt, whose mandate has been extended until June 2016, told Monday's issue of Vecernje novosti that Eulex staff will no longer head the major judicial institutions in Kosovo, and that the mission's judges will be a minority in Kosovo's courts.

With the new two-year mandate of EULEX in  Kosovo there will be less international officials in Kosovo institutions, whereas number and importance of local judges and prosecutors will be increased, said the EULEX head of mission Bernd Borchardt to Belgrade-based Blic.

Borchardt was due to visit Belgrade early this week and meet with Serbia’s leadership but the visit is postponed for next month. Meeting will take place due to the change of mandate of the mission in charge for rule of law in Kosovo.

European Union has extended the mandate to its rule of law mission in Kosovo for another two years.

In a statement, European governments said EULEX will begin to reduce its executive functions in the justice sector and added that prosecutors do not plan on taking on new cases.

They also said that the mission will be downsized in order to reflect the change of its activity.

Starting this Sunday, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) will hand over competencies to local institutions. Panels of judges from now on will consist of two local judges and an international judge, and EULEX officials will have only a supporting and advisory role. On Wednesday, EULEX, the EU Office in Kosovo and the Ministry of Justice published a progress report on the agreement, which includes achievements and challenges of rule of law institutions in Kosovo.

EULEX chief Bernd Borchardt said on Wednesday that the EU mission would cooperate with whoever forms the government. “As the majority of parties have supported our mandate, we think we have good partners. Whoever forms the government, we will do our best to meet the expectations,” Borchardt said when asked by reporters if he has doubts that PDK leader Hashim Thaci will be able to form the new government.