EU DISCUSSES U.S. PARTICIPATION AND WAY FORWARD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000913 SIPDIS FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018 TAGS: KPKO PREL KJUS EUN UNMIK KV SUBJECT: EU DISCUSSES U.S. PARTICIPATION AND WAY FORWARD FOR EULEX MISSION REF: STATE 63144 Classified By: CDA Christopher W. Murray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: EU civilian operations planning officials are optimistic that EU-UNMIK cooperation will soon be back on track and EULEX deployment will begin in larger numbers. Although questions about legal jurisdiction will pose challenges, EU officials expressed confidence that the EU and UN will soon agree on the transfer of assets, equipment, and personnel. EULEX officials will provide an updated deployment plan after the UN Security Council discusses the UN Secretary General's report. Civilian Operations Commander Kees Klompenhouwer responded to USEU Charge's concerns regarding the deployment of the American contingent to EULEX (reftel). EU officials noted the value of continued discussions, as the EU's conduct of civilian operations is a work in progress, benefiting from lessons learned along the way. Both sides expressed the willingness to be flexible and continue to engage in consultations in response to specific issues regarding the U.S. contingent. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On June 16, Civilian Operations Commander Kees Klompenhouwer told Charge that the EU was happy to see that things were starting to move at the UN with regard to cooperation with EULEX. Klompenhouwer anticipates that UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon will receive support to move forward with the path outlined in his report and that UNMIK will soon receive the instruction to start reconfiguration. He noted the need to synchronize the UN and EU clocks and said that as soon as UNMIK received the instructions, the 120-day countdown would start for both sides. Klompenhouwer is optimistic that the two sides then will work out agreements relatively quickly on the transfer of assets, equipment, and personnel, the extension of privileges and immunities, and the medical arrangements. The most difficult issue will be jurisdiction, i.e., which laws and international authority will apply in a given situation, as international authorities under 1244 are not necessarily the same as the laws enacted by the Government of Kosovo. Klompenhouwer assessed that there were few big risks to the stable security situation over the next 120 days, but did note some concern about possible Serbian socialist control over the Interior ministry and the implications for the situation in Northern Kosovo under a new Serbian government. ¶3. (C) EULEX Political Advisor Dana Purcarescu explained that the EU would soon send out another call for contributions to fill vacant slots in the mission, After the presumed UN Security Council meeting on UNMIK reconfiguration, the EU would update its deployment plan. Purcarescu said that the mission realistically could absorb only approximately 80 people per week, assuming adequate transfer of assets and equipment from the UN. The EU officials admitted that while they aimed to have operational capability by mid- or late-September, they faced a possible slowdown in deployments due to seconded European officers' August holidays. ¶4. (SBU) Turning to reftel points and questions raised by Charge, Klompenhouwer said that that he understood that the unique circumstances of U.S. participation in the mission inevitably raised a number of questions for the USG, and it was important for CPCC to hear assessments and evaluations from contributing states. Noting the importance of the U.S. contribution to the EULEX mission from the political and substantive perspectives, Klompenhouwer said that member states share many of the same concerns and questions, and many of the challenges are inherent to the planning and conduct of civilian operations, more generally. Klompenhouwer attributed the slower pace of selection, deployment and evolving practices and procedures to the fact that, in contrast to military operations, civilian missions deploy, in most cases, non-expeditionary individuals who are placed in units on the ground, rather than in already-formed units that have shared training, culture and experience. ¶5. (SBU) Purcarescu added that the EU lacks a common, "European" police doctrine, so the process of creating common operational standards from various national practices is a dynamic one, continually changing to take account of lessons learned. Although CPCC will be examining ways to further standardize practices in the future, civilian commanders BRUSSELS 00000913 002 OF 002 generally are tolerant of national practices when necessary. Responding to Charge's inquiry about where best to address USG questions, Klompenhouwer expressed the CPCC's willingness to consult on planning documents. He commented that while some documents were drafted in the field, the more accurate information and effective place for consultation is Brussels, as the documents often change as member states provide their input. ¶6. (SBU) In a separate conversation with PolOff, Purcarescu noted the possibility for EU flexibility on specific equipment and uniform issues, as well as deployment timelines where necessary to respond to U.S. contracting mechanisms. She underscored that many member states have similar problems with deployment requirements. Purcarescu urged the U.S. to make good use of the Committee of Contributors forum to raise some of these issues, because other third states and member states would likely support the position and could help affect change to EU practices or procedures, as appropriate. She emphasized that the U.S. and other contributing third states will be consulted on any changes to the EULEX Operational Plan that would have implications for costs borne by the sending states or for seconded personnel. MURRAY .