After months of diplomatic wrangling, the Kosovo Government has approved a draft law for the extension of the mandate of the European Union Rule of Law Mission, EULEX. The current mandate of the EU mission expires on June 15. The government decision about EULEX was taken by the prime minister’s cabinet at a morning meeting held Friday morning.

The draft law will be reviewed by the Kosovo Assembly at its next session, the date of which has not been announced yet.

“The decision of the continuation of EULEX mandate has to be ratified by the parliament no later than June 14,” declared prime minister Mustafa.

“The government welcomes the extension of the EULEX mandate,” said Mustafa, adding that EULEX’s role in the next mandate should change to “monitoring, mentoring and advising.”

The government approved the draft law for ratifying the international agreement between Republic of Kosovo and the European Union on EULEX. It also approved changes in draft laws that relate to the mandate of this mission.The draft law will be sent to the Assembly today.

The EU Rule of Law Mission was deployed to Kosovo one day before the country’s declaration of independence in February 2008, taking over administration and executive control over the police and judiciary from the UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. For the past eight years it played a pivotal –but sometimes controversial– role in shaping Kosovo’s justice system and rule of law.  In 2014, EULEX handed over the executive functions to local judicial institutions, but still retained the ability to have complete control over cases initiated prior to that date.

EULEX will continue to play a supporting role in the so-called Specialist Chambers being set up to try the allegations raised in the 2011 Dick Marty report. During the diplomatic negotiations over the mandate extension, Kosovo government officials were pushing for an end date for the mission be part of the new agreement, and asked that EULEX relinquish its remaining executive authorities.

Though EULEX has been criticized for not arresting high profile criminals and famously came under fire for alleged corruption in November 2014, it has also made some significant arrests. In April this year, EULEX and Kosovo Police initiated a criminal investigation on corruption raiding 42 locations and arresting former Kosovo Liberation Army commander, Azem Syla, who is suspected to be the leader of a group that appropriated socially owned property in Laplje Selo, outside Prishtina.

The draft law will be reviewed by the Kosovo Assembly in the next meeting, which has not been set yet.

“The decision of the continuation of EULEX mandate has to be ratified by the parliament no later than June 14,” declared prime minister Mustafa.

“The government welcomes the extension of the EULEX mandate,” said Mustafa, adding that EULEX’s role in the next mandate should change to “monitoring, mentoring and advising.”

The government approved the draft law for ratifying the international agreement between Republic of Kosovo and the European Union on EULEX. It also approved changes in draft laws that relate to the mandate of this mission.The draft law will be sent to the Assembly today.

The EU Rule-of-Law Mission was deployed to Kosovo one day before the country’s declaration of independence in 2008. During its 8 years it has played a pivotal role in shaping Kosovo’s justice system and rule of law. In April of this year, EULEX and Kosovo Police initiated a criminal investigation on corruption raiding 42 locations and arresting former Kosovo Liberation Army commander, Azem Syla.