On 26^th of February 2025, in the presence of representatives of the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR), EU Member States, international organizations as well as of Kosovo institutions, the Head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovanni Pietro Barbano, presided over the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Service Medal Ceremony for the members of the Fifth EULEX Reserve Formed Police Unit.

The gendarmes from the French Gendarmerie Nationale, the Arma dei Carabinieri of Italy, the Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana and the Public Security Service of Lithuania were bestowed the service medal on behalf of the EU High Representative/Vice President Kaja Kallas, as a recognition for their meritorious service in EULEX.

In his address during the CSDP Service Medal Ceremony, the Head of Mission pointed out: “Your contribution of highly skilled officers to this Mission reaffirms your commitment, as EU Member States and EUROGENFDOR Contributing Countries to the security and stability of Kosovo and the western Balkans as a whole.”

The medal recipients were deployed to Kosovo under the auspices of EUROGENDFOR to serve in the EULEX Reserve Formed Police Unit working shoulder to shoulder with the Polish Officers of the Formed Police Unit to strengthen the capacity of the Mission in supporting stability as second security responder during the general elections. Praising them for their professionalism, Barbano recalled: “Your presence on the ground not only contributed from an operational point of view to the overall security in Kosovo, but it also sent a clear message about the EU determination to be present where it matters the most”.

Although not able to be present at the ceremony, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, through a congratulatory letter, expressed his gratitude for the RFPU’s unwavering commitment to serving in Kosovo. He thanked the RFPU noting that “with the many security challenges the world is currently facing, their service in Kosovo to ensure peace, stability and prosperity demonstrates the excellent cooperation that Kosovo institutions have with EULEX and its allies”.

The fifth EULEX RFPU was deployed to Kosovo in January 2025, with the first deployment of RFPU occurring in March 2022.

EULEX serves as Kosovo’s second security responder within a three-tiered security response mechanism where Kosovo Police is the first security responder, EULEX is the second, and the NATO-led mission KFOR is the third.