June 9 (SeeNews) - The Council of the European Union said it decided to extend by two years the mandate of the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo).
The Council's Political and Security Committee (PSC) agreed that the mission should be extended until June 14, 2023, and that the task of providing operational support to the EU-facilitated dialogue should be transferred to the European Union Office in Kosovo by December 31, 2022, the Council said in its decision published in the EU's Official Journal.
The EULEX mandate in Kosovo was due to end on June 14, after being extended by one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The mission is assisting authorities in establishing sustainable and independent rule of law institutions.
Kosovo, considered to be a potential candidate for EU membership by the European Commission, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
In 2016, Kosovo signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU which entered into force on April 1 of that year.