Notitie over de toekomstige rol van de EU in Kosovo (en)

Background note on the third joint report by Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the CFSP, and Olli Rehn, Commissioner for Enlargement, on the future EU role and contribution in Kosovo. This report builds on the previous joint papers on the future EU role and contribution in Kosovo, submitted to the Council by Mr Solana and Mr Rehn in June and December 2005.

Extracts from the report:

The Status Process

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  UN Special Envoy Mr Martti Ahtisaari has been working on developing a clearer understanding on the parameters of the future settlement and to identify common ground between the two sides. The work is on-going. Mr Ahtisaari presented his latest assessment of progress on the status process to the Security Council on 13 July.
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  The UN Status Envoy has been working closely with all major international stakeholders. The EU, the United States and NATO have their own representatives in the status talks. The Commission’s Liaison Officer is part of the EU team.
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  It is of paramount importance to ensure that the outcome of the status process will respect the European perspective of Kosovo and provide the conditions for a functioning and viable Kosovo fully integrated in the region.

The UN Standards and the European Integration Process

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  Progress on the status also depends on progress on standards implementation.
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  The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo presented a generally positive report on the implementation of the Standards for Kosovo to the UN Security Council on 20 June. The authorities in Kosovo are currently focusing on the implementation of UN standards which need to be tackled in the short term.
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  With the European Partnership adopted in January 2006, the EU has sent a clear message to Kosovo's authorities that fulfilment of the UN standards is not only needed to pave the way for a status settlement, but also for the fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria in the longer term. The rights of Kosovo Serbs and other minorities will be better protected by engaging Pristina in the implementation of European standards concerning human and minority rights and the rule of law. At the same time, Kosovo's structures for European integration should be strengthened.

The future international engagement

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  Following a settlement and the phasing out of UNMIK, Kosovo's own institutions should be responsible for managing its affairs. Local ownership and accountability should rest with Kosovo.
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  The primary objective of the future international engagement in Kosovo should be to support and monitor the Kosovo Government's efforts to promote local and regional security, political and social stability, economic sustainability and reconciliation.
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  An international presence will need to be established in Kosovo to monitor the implementation of the status settlement, the rule of law, and certain economic and fiscal matters. The international presence will need to have some limited intervention powers to ensure that the status settlement is implemented.
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  In addition, the international community will continue providing institution building assistance. The Commission will assume a leading role in this area.

The EU engagement in Kosovo

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  The EU intends to become the driving force within the future international presence. Its contribution will have 3 main components:
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  The head of the international civilian presence will also be EU Special Representative (double hatted). An EU team will contribute to the preparation of the future international civilian presence in Kosovo in close cooperation with other international actors.
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  The EU will play an important role in the rule of law. An EU Planning Team is already working in Pristina to prepare a future European Security and Defence Policy operation, which will focus on the justice sector and on the police. In parallel, assistance under the future Pre-Accession Instrument (IPA) will focus on capacity building of the local authorities.
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  The Community instruments will continue to be deployed to support Kosovo's progress within the Stabilisation and Association Process. The Commission will establish an office in Pristina that will absorb the functions of the EC Liaison Office and of the European Agency for Reconstruction.

Kosovo's EU perspective after the status settlement

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  The common objective of the EU and Kosovo is to ensure that Kosovo becomes a reliable partner, progressing towards integration with the EU together with the rest of the region. This will reinforce Kosovo's political and economic viability.
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  The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) and the EU perspective that it offers have greatly enhanced stability and security in the region. Provided that Kosovo reaches a sufficient degree of democratic and institutional stability, including further progress on the implementation of the European Partnership and satisfactory implementation of the future status settlement, all instruments presently available for the Western Balkan region should be made available to Kosovo, including the prospect of contractual relations with the EU.
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  It will be essential to consolidate a sound basis for Kosovo's economic development. Political and social stability requires sustainable economic development. Building on UNMIK's work and allowing for maximum local ownership, the EU will need to continue supporting Kosovo's government in setting up a modern, open, market-oriented and business-friendly environment, based on EU-compatible structural reforms.

Financial implications

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  The EU's financial contribution to the implementation of the status settlement will have two main components:
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  Contribution to the operation of the international civilian presence and the ESDP mission. The cost of the international presence will depend on the scope of its intervention as defined in the status settlement. However, the aim is to keep it as lean as possible. The EU Planning Team deployed in Pristina will elaborate the costing aspects of the future ESDP mission.
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  Local authorities are preparing "A Kosovo Development and Strategy Plan" that will underpin the economic and fiscal reform agenda. To support Kosovo's stability and socio-economic development, the Commission and the World Bank will convene a donors' conference upon the status settlement. Together with other donors, the EU will contribute to a well coordinated mixture of grant assistance, macro-financial support and loans.

For further information see:

Summary note 9 December 2005:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/reports/87565.pdf

Summary note 14 June 2005

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/reports/85228.pdf