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
.