Serbian List asks EULEX to oversee Kosovo police

A delegation of the Serbian List, led by party president Zlatan Elek, met the new head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and Metohija (EULEX), Antero Lopes, and asked the mission to oversee the work of the Kosovo police and correctional facilities. The source is a statement the party published on its Instagram account, which media outlets relayed on October 8 from Kosovska Mitrovica. The statement does not say when or where the meeting took place.

How does the Serbian List describe the situation on the ground?

According to the statement, the talks covered the problems facing the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, the worsening position of Serbs and the threats to their basic human, civil and political rights. Party representatives pointed in particular to what they called continuous institutional violence against Serbs, as well as pressure and unlawful treatment of Serb representatives and municipal bodies.

The Serbian List claims this further undermines legal certainty, the work of local governments and citizens’ trust in institutions. The party summed up the conclusion of the statement in a single sentence:

“During the meeting it was stressed that violations of Serbs’ rights, disregard for the law and abuse of institutional mechanisms have become a regular occurrence, while the lack of an adequate response from the competent institutions further emboldens such conduct and deepens the sense of insecurity among our people.”

What exactly does it ask of EULEX?

The delegation asked EULEX, in line with its mandate, to provide continuous, objective and professional oversight of how the Kosovo police and correctional facilities act, according to the statement. The party says particular attention should go to the treatment of members of the Serbian people, respect for legal procedures and the rights of people deprived of liberty. It also asks for the prevention of every form of discrimination, selective application of the law and institutional arbitrariness.

The Serbian List also said that the role of EULEX, as the statement puts it, “must not be reduced to formal monitoring of the situation.” The party wants the mission to point out irregularities promptly and impartially, with clear recommendations and concrete steps within its mandate, so that further violations of rights are prevented and those responsible for unlawful conduct are held accountable.

In the closing part of the statement, the party says respect for the rule of law, protection of basic human rights and equal application of the law to all citizens are the minimum that must be guaranteed. In its words, Serbs must not be exposed to discrimination and institutional pressure without an adequate response from international missions whose task is to oversee the rule of law.

What is known about EULEX’s response and earlier talks?

The sources relaying the statement include no comment from EULEX on the meeting, so for now this is the only account of the talks, and it comes from one of the sides. The mission has not responded to the Serbian List’s requests.

The demand for stricter oversight of the Kosovo police is not new. The Serbian List made it to EULEX earlier, in talks with the then head of the mission, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, when it also asked for stronger oversight of police work in Kosovo. The new meeting raises the question of whether EULEX under its new leadership will respond to the requests publicly and with concrete steps within its mandate.