Hoxha: EULEX played an important support role, Kosovo’s institutions are functioning at full capacity

Former Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Valdet Hoxha, told Kosovo Online that the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), since its establishment in 2008, has played an important role in supporting Kosovo’s institutions in building an independent, professional, and efficient judicial system.

According to him, Kosovo’s institutions, including judicial and security mechanisms, are now sufficiently established, functioning at full capacity, and face no operational obstacles in carrying out their constitutional and legal mandates.

Regarding the announcement by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, that EULEX's mandate will be extended until June 2027, Hoxha said that “Ms. Kallas’s proposal should be analyzed in the spirit of international support and cooperation, to ensure a continuous peaceful and secure environment for all.”

“Any international support and investment that has a positive impact on the field of security should be considered, but of course without affecting the constitutional powers of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo,” Hoxha stated.

Regarding EULEX’s current mandate, he emphasized that the mission, in addition to serving as a secondary security response after the Kosovo Police, especially in the north, also has an advisory and partnership role with judicial institutions in implementing the justice agreements resulting from the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, as well as a supportive role without an executive mandate.