Operational functions are undertaken by the Mission’s Operations Support Pillar which maintains a limited residual capability as a second security responder and provides continued support to Kosovo Police’s crowd and riot control capability. More specifically, EULEX’s Formed Police Unit (FPU), which consists of 105 Polish Police Officers, is Kosovo’s second security responder, as part of a three-layer security responder mechanism where Kosovo Police is the first security responder, EULEX is the second one, and KFOR is the third security responder. The FPU carries out daily reconnaissance patrols and regularly participates in crowd-and-riot control exercises together with the Kosovo Police and KFOR. From 15 June 2018 to 14 June 2021, the FPU has participated in seven joint trainings with the Kosovo Police and KFOR, two trainings with the Kosovo Police and 53 trainings with KFOR. The aim of such trainings is to ensure smooth coordination among the three security responders in case of a real-life deployment.
EULEX also supports the Kosovo Police in the field of international police cooperation by facilitating the exchange of information between the Kosovo Police and Interpol, Europol or the Serbian Ministry of Interior. From 15 June 2018 to 14 June 2021, EULEX received 4368 requests, out of which 502 are related to the exchange of information between Europol and the Kosovo Police and 743 requests are related to the information exchange between the Kosovo Police and the Serbian Ministry of Interior in line with the protocol on police cooperation between the two entities. The Mission also facilitates the exchange of information between the National Central Bureaus of Interpol and the Kosovo Police's International Law Enforcement Coordination Unit under the umbrella of the Interpol Liaison Office within UNMIK. From 15 June 2018 to 14 June 2021, EULEX staff members working in the Interpol Liaison Office within UNMIK received 3076 requests.
In addition, the Mission continues to manage its own witness protection programme.
EULEX experts continue to work together with our local counterparts at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to determine the fate of missing persons by offering expertise and advice in the identification of potential clandestine graves and the exhumation and identification of victims from the Kosovo conflict. From the beginning of EULEX’s mandate until 14 June 2021, EULEX has conducted 669 field operations to locate missing persons, including 172 exhumations. The remains of 470 individuals have been identified, including 327 missing persons. In addition, EULEX’s experts work together with the Kosovo authorities to address the issue of around 300 body remains at the Pristina morgue.
The Mission also assists the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office with logistic and operational support in line with relevant Kosovo legislation.
