About the EUSR

About the European Special Representative in Kosovo

At  the June 2003 Thessaloniki Summit,  the EU highlighted its unequivocal support to the European perspective of the Western Balkans.  The Council reiterated this commitment on December 10, 2007 and reconfirmed its continued support to the regions course towards the EU. As a result, Kosovo is firmly anchored in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP).

The objective of the EU in Kosovo is to support and assist the Kosovo authorities in developing a stable, viable, peaceful and multi-ethnic Kosovo, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours in the region, and the Council of the European Union appointed a EU Special Representative (EUSR) in Kosovo.

Mandate: the mandate is  the Council Joint Action 2008/123/CFSP of  4 February 2008. The EU Special Representative for Kosovo will:

·      Offer the EU’s advice and support to the Kosovo Government in the political process.

·      Promote overall coordination of EU presences in Kosovo, e.g. European Commission liaison office and the EULEX rule of law mission

·      Ensure consistency and coherence of EU action towards the public

·      Provide local political guidance to the Head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission EULEX in Kosovo.

·      Contribute to the development and consolidation of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Kosovo

The EU Special Representative, Pieter Feith, reports to the Council of the European Union, the inter-governmental body representing the 27 EU member states, through the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council, Javier Solana.

The EU Special Representative currently holds a double mandate and is also acting as International Civilian Representative (ICR) for Kosovo. For further information related to this separate mandate, please click here.