U.S. to Participate in First ESDP Mission in Kosovo

October 22, 2008

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dan Fried signed an agreement October 22 that will allow the U.S. to participate in the EULEX mission in Kosovo. This will be the first time the U.S. has participated in a European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) mission with the EU. In remarks after the signing ceremony in the EU Council building in Brussels, Assistant Secretary Fried said the U.S. would contribute 80 police officers and up to eight judges and prosecutors to the mission.

Below is the text of the U.S.-EU joint statement:

Joint Press Statement by the United States of America and the European Union

On US participation in the EULEX mission in Kosovo

On 22 October 2008, "the Agreement on the Participation of the United States of America in the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo" entered into force. This is a distinctive case of the United States participating in a civilian European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) mission.

The European Union and the United States have a common desire to work together to support the development of Kosovo's democratic standards, in particular the strengthening of an independent and multi-ethnic rule of law system. The deployment of the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) throughout Kosovo is of benefit to all the communities in Kosovo. It is critical for international efforts to deepen rule of law in Kosovo in order to contribute to greater stability in the region. Deployment of EULEX staff is continuing apace and EULEX’s initial operational capability is expected to be declared at the start of December 2008.

The negotiations were led by Javier Solana, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, for the EU delegation and Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, for the U.S. delegation.

Statement and Fact Sheet (issued by Council of the EU)