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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000727 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ACE AND INL, NSC FOR BRAUN, USUN FOR 
DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER, DEPT FOR S/WCI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016 
TAGS: EAID ETTC KCRM PREL YI UNMIK DPKO
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: EU RULE OF LAW PLANNING PROGRESSING, BUT 
MISSION SCOPE STILL IN FLUX 
 
 
Classified By: COM TINA S. KAIDANOW FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
 ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Casper Klynge, head of the EU Planning Team 
(EUPT), told us recently he is grappling with mixed messages 
from Brussels and EU capitals on his follow-on rule of law 
mission's size and scope.  Brussels favors a limited 
footprint, while capitals increasingly argue for a more 
operational approach to combating organized crime and the 
potential flashpoint of the Serb north (but, significantly, 
without promising more resources to support such an enhanced 
role).  That unhelpful context aside, Klynge said that that 
the EU Rule of Law mission will focus on building the 
capacity of judges and prosecutors; that the transition team 
has found the Kosovo Police Service School (KPSS) to be in 
relatively good shape but that another school may be needed 
to train customs officials and other law enforcement agents; 
that a civilian force for border security, based on the 
German model of specialized police, is the model the EU will 
likely pursue; and that EU operational control will be 
retained in key areas, such as war crimes, ethnically 
motivated crimes and organized crime.  Klynge expressed his 
strong desire to work closely with us and acknowledged that 
the EU Rule of Law mission scope should be defined as quickly 
as possible to avoid retaking any UNMIK competencies 
currently being transferred to the PISG.  END SUMMARY. 
 
EUPT's Scope and Mission in the EU/Kosovo Political Context 
 
¶2. (C) In recent conversations with USOP, Casper Klynge, head 
of the EU Planning Team (EUPT), expressed enthusiasm for 
working with us and said his team was already up to its 
planned strength of 25.  He expected the eventual EU Rule of 
Law mission to range from 500-1,000 people, including police 
and administrative staff.  A key challenge he noted was 
determining the EU Rule of Law mission's scope and focus. 
Brussels favored a limited presence, he said, with limited 
executive powers, while  EU capitals increasingly wanted a 
more "robust" footprint with a strong operational element to 
get tough on organized crime and the potential flashpoint of 
northern Kosovo.  Klynge (protect) emphasized the difficulty 
he and his EU liaison office colleague faced in dealing with 
these demands -- especially given the lack of personnel and 
resources being offered by EU capitals to establish and 
maintain such a robust mission.  (He noted the same in a 
joint meeting with UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari, EU liaison 
office head in Kosovo Torbjorn Sohlstrom, and COM during 
Ahtisaari's visit to Pristina the week of August 24.)  A 
related problem Klynge mentioned was the ongoing transfer of 
UNMIK competencies to the PISG; he noted that the EU might 
wish to retake some in which the Kosovars fall short of EU 
standards.  He acknowledged this was not an ideal way to 
proceed. 
 
Specific Areas of Activity 
 
¶3.  (C)  Klynge indicated that EU planners had found some 
Rule of Law sectors in better shape than others, and that, as 
a consequence, the degree of EU 
monitoring/mentoring/oversight would vary by sector.  Police, 
he said, were less of a problem than the judicial and 
prosecutorial side.  He judged the Kosovo Police Service 
School (KPSS) to be sound, but added that another school to 
train customs officials and others with law 
enforcement-related duties would make sense.  He noted the 
Ministry of Interior wants the KPSS to fall under its 
control, but this could be problematic since the school would 
train other organizations that fall under the Ministry of 
Justice.  While not getting overly involved in the debate 
over the school, the EUPT wants to study the effectiveness of 
KPSS training, present its findings and make corrections in 
curricula, if necessary.  Klynge thought that the initial 
training program might be too short and follow-up courses 
might be necessary. 
 
¶4.  (C) The judiciary, Klynge noted, needed considerably more 
work.  The EU would focus attention heavily on the judicial 
sector, with the overriding goal to build the capacity of 
 
PRISTINA 00000727  002 OF 002 
 
 
Kosovar judges and prosecutors.  The end result, he argued, 
should be to move from a 2 1 (2 internationals for every 
local judicial actor) to 1 2 format. 
 
¶5.  (C)  On border issues, Klynge said he would like to see a 
stronger presence in the north and that he favored a civilian 
force, with the KPS in charge.  He dismissed the possibility 
of paramilitary border guards and said what emerges will 
likely be based on the German model of specialized police 
because it meshes well with the European Integrated Border 
Security Initiative.  The EC would furnish equipment for 
policing the border, while EU member states would contribute 
human resources.  He envisions close cooperation between 
customs and border police and the creation of a customs 
compliance unit that allows EU monitors to intervene and 
correct problems.  Klynge was enthusiastic about the upcoming 
visit of a USG Export Control and Related Border Security 
(EXBS) program assessment team to Kosovo. 
 
¶6.  (C) Klynge assured us that the EU follow-on mission will 
be very engaged in war crimes issues.  He said that the 
police commissioner position will in all likelihood be 
transferred to the Kosovo Police Service, but that an EU 
"shadow police commissioner" would be able to intervene and 
overturn decisions when necessary.  There will be a special 
"executive policy unit" for sensitive areas, including war 
crimes, ethnically-motivated crimes and organized crime. 
(Note: S/WCI Ambassador Clint Williamson will visit Kosovo 
September 16 and will discuss war crimes issues in detail 
with Klynge.  End Note.)  When asked specifically about 
Belgrade's influence, he said he was not permitted to engage 
on these issues now, but would seek to integrate the parallel 
structures into Kosovo institutions as quickly as possible 
after the settlement. 
 
¶7.  (C) COMMENT:  EUPT head Klynge has a tough job ahead of 
him reconciling the mixed signals from Brussels and EU 
capitals on the size and scope of his mission -- and having 
to do so as UNMIK competencies continue to be transferred to 
the PISG.  We have advised him that it will be difficult to 
retake these competencies, so the EUPT needs to get its house 
in order now.  We will continue to work closely with the EUPT 
to assist them in defining their follow-on rule of law 
mission, and will look for ways to fill any gaps.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
¶8.  (U) US Office Pristina does not/not approve release of 
this cable to Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari. 
KAIDANOW