UK Slates Delays Over New EU Kosovo Chief

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has again failed to name a permanent EU Special Representative, EUSR, in Kosovo at the second time of asking.

Following an earlier decision to split the job of EUSR and head of the International Civilian Office, ICO, the EU has been without a new head of operations in Kosovo since May 1.

The delay has come as the EU struggles to form a cohesive position on who should become the next EUSR in Kosovo, what form the EU’s presence should take in the light of administrative changes and even how the office, and Kosovo, should be referred to as.

Ashton appointed the Italian diplomat Fernando Gentilini with a mandate ending at the end of July to buy time to resolve these issues, but her office told Balkan Insight this week that his contract would be extended for another two months.

Ashton has been warned that these delays send the wrong message to Kosovo at a crucial time, Balkan Insight can reveal.

A letter sent to the European Scrutiny Committee of UK Parliament, dated 11 May 2011, by Minister for Europe David Lidington reveals his concerns that "Ashton’s plans to re-design the EU presence in Kosovo will not in practice enhance EU influence and reputation as much as she and the UK would like.

“I am particularly concerned that, given the tight timescales involved, the EU risks being without a EUSR for a sustained period of time,” he wrote. Since then, an appointment to the position has been further delayed.

“This would be the wrong signal to send at a time when we are looking to the new Kosovo government to drive forward the reform priorities highlighted in the Commission's progress report, and when we would like the EU to send tangible signals of its support for Kosovo's progress towards the EU, in line with the European perspective of the entire Western Balkans region”, Lidington wrote.

The British minister has been particularly concerned at attempts by nonrecognising countries to impose their views on references to Kosovo in EU documents.

To the “EUSR playing a lead role in a settlement defining Kosovo's future status” , despite 22 out of 27 states of EU having recognised Kosovo.

Lidington said, however, that negotiations on a new EUSR had been coupled to an ongoing discussion on how Kosovo should be referred to in EU documents.

Ashton’s Spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, told Balkan Insight that the procedure for naming a permanent representative was ongoing.

“The aim is quite clear, but there are still ongoing negotiations with the [European] Council,” she said.

Around ten 10 people, including Italian ambassador Michael Giffoni and Ulrike Lunacek, European parliament reporter for Kosovo, were interviewed during the past weeks.

The problem is not only with the name of the diplomat. EU member states that have recognised Kosovo would prefer for EUSR to be a head of an “EU Delegation”, rather than a “Liaison Office” as it is now.

Vlora Citaku, Kosovo’s minister of Integration, told Balkan Insight that the government would welcome a higher EU profile to help with communications in the process towards EU membership.

Kosovo officials have blamed lack of EU coordination and unclear messages for some of the latest developments in Serb-run north Kosovo.