Brussels, 13 June 2023
The Council appointed today a new Head of Mission(HoM) for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo* (EULEX Kosovo).
Mr Giovanni Pietro Barbano will replace Mr Lars-Gunnar Wigemark as HoM. Mr Barbano is a Major General in the Italian Carabinieri and the current Director of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units in Vicenza, Italy. His mandate as Head of EULEX Kosovo will run from 26 June 2023 until 14 June 2025.
The decision to appoint Mr Barbano was taken by the EU member states in the Political and Security Committee (PSC).
Furthermore, the Council recently extended the mandate of the mission until 14 June 2025 and in line with the latest strategic review of EULEX Kosovo, decided that, in addition to continuing to implement its tasks, the mission would assist the law enforcement authorities of Kosovo in developing their capacities to exchange information with regional and international counterparts in the field of legal assistance and cooperation in criminal matters.
Background
EULEX Kosovo was launched in 2008 as the largest civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union. EULEX’s overall mission is to assist the Kosovo authorities in establishing sustainable and independent rule of law institutions, with a focus on the police, judiciary and customs areas and through monitoring and operations pillars. Under EULEX’s current mandate, the mission undertakes monitoring activities and has limited executive functions, including as second tier security responder. EULEX continues to support the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in line with relevant Kosovo legislation. The mission works within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
Source – EU Council